Axonal Regeneration in Mammals with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract : Since Ramon y Cajal's classic demonstration of abortive regeneration in injured mammalian spinal cord, numerous studies have sought to identify conditions or to develop therapeutic methods that are capable of maintaining continual axonal regeneration in injured neural tissue. This review examines some of the major developments in the field of central nervous system (CNS) regeneration research. These developments have revealed important aspects regarding the histology and physiology of traumatized spinal cord. A growing area of spinal cord injury research lies in identifying the factors related to neuronal plasticity and axonal regeneration of the spinal cord. This review will discuss those factors that are considered responsible for inhibiting axonal regeneration in the traumatized mammalian spinal cord. In addition, this review also discusses some of the experimental approaches to the enhancement of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Future avenues for research in CNS regeneration are suggested in the final part of this review.