Genetic mouse models for studying inhibitors of spinal axon regeneration.
The laboratory mouse has emerged as a primary model organism for studying axon regeneration after experimental spinal cord injury, owing to its genetic amenability. Mutant mouse models are contributing significantly to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of axon regeneration failure in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), in particular regarding the role of axon-growth inhibitors. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding axon regeneration failure that have been made using genetically modified mice, focusing on the inhibitory influences in the CNS, and we illustrate the advantages of using the mouse as a surrogate organism to study axon regeneration and spinal cord repair.
Zheng
Binhai
B
Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0691, USA. binhai@ucsd.edu
Lee
Jae K
JK
Xie
Fang
F
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
D006131:Growth Inhibitors