Abstract
The failure of injured axons to regenerate long distances in the adult mammalian CNS leads to permanent paralysis and devastating functional deficits. Although axons do not regenerate beyond the lesion site in adult CNS tissue, they have the ability to regrow for long distances if provided with an appropriate microenvironment. Search for the microenvironment appropriate for axonal regeneration has been the main theme in this field, which includes inhibiting neurite growth inhibitory proteins like NogoA or MAG with antibodies, grafting peripheral nerves or embryonic CNS tissues or transplanting Schwann cells or olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). However, repaired neural connections with these treatments were small in amount and short in extension, which are considered mostly aberrant and achieve less functional recovery. In contrast, we have achieved rapid and marked functional recovery in adult paraplegic rats by transplanting type-2 astrocytes-rich culture cells. In the present symposium, I am going to discuss on the mechanisms inducing axonal regeneration by these cells. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S23 (2004)]
