Can Neural Stem Cells Plus Valproate Reconnect the Injured Spinal Cord?
ARTICLE IN BRIEF Investigators reported that a combination treatment — neural stem cells and valproic acid — prompted a dramatic recovery of hind limb function in a mouse model of spinal cord injury. FOLLOWING administration of valproic acid, neuronal differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells was greatly enhanced and dramatic functional recovery was observed. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) — a molecule that can be trans-synaptically transported — is conveyed through the lesion site to the caudal area via transplant-derived neurons. [ Click here to enlarge ] Spinal cord injuries have been a prime target for stem cell transplantation research, but to date, little has been gained in the way of circuit restoration and functional improvement. But both may be achievable when neural stem cells are treated with valproic acid, according to a new study in the Sept. 1 Journal of Clinical Investigation. One expert calls the study promising, but cautions that too little is yet known about the
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