title: Neurologic foundations of spinal cord fusion (GEMINI).
abstract: Cephalosomatic anastomosis has been carried out in both monkeys and mice with preservation of brain function. Nonetheless the spinal cord was not reconstructed, leaving the animals unable to move voluntarily. Here we review the details of the GEMINI spinal cord fusion protocol, which aims at restoring electrophysiologic conduction across an acutely transected spinal cord. The existence of the cortico-truncoreticulo-propriospinal pathway, a little-known anatomic entity, is described, and its importance concerning spinal cord fusion emphasized. The use of fusogens and electrical stimulation as adjuvants for nerve fusion is addressed. The possibility of achieving cephalosomatic anastomosis in humans has become reality in principle.
authors.affiliation: Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: sercan@inwind.it.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canavero
authors.affiliation: Hand and Microsurgical Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University; State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: XiaoPing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: C-Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D058630:Spinal Cord Regeneration