Abstract
Partial restoration of function after spinal cord contusion has been accomplished by injecting stem cells. However, the effect is shown only for the acute and/or subacute phase. Carlos Lima, et al. who are pioneers in this field reported their clinical pilot study of olfactory mucosa transplantation for chronic spinal cord injury. They showed the safety and feasibility of it. The failure of the spinal cord to regenerate and undergo reconstruction after spinal cord injury (SCI) can be attributed to the extremely limited regenerative capacity of most central nervous system (CNS) axons, as well as the hostile environment of the adult CNS. After SCI, astroglial scarring forms within lesioned areas. It has been shown that axon regeneration is initiated in the injured spinal cord but is blocked by glial scar formation. Therefore, a suitable local environmental is likely to be required for successful axonal regeneration. Olfactory mucosa contains stem cells that can replace lost cells, and olfactory ensheathing cells that stimulate axon growth and provide scaffold for axon growth.
