Nerve Cells Regrown In Rats With Spinal Cord Injury

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;Bio-terrorism / Terrorism Article Date: 26 Jun 2013 - 3:00 PDT

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Yu-Shang Lee, of the Cleveland Clinic, and Jerry Silver, of Case Western Reserve Medical School, both in Cleveland, Ohio, and others, write about their work in a new study due to be published in Wednesday's online issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

In a statement, Lee says:

"This is the first time that significant bladder function has been restored via nerve regeneration after a devastating cord injury."

"Although animals did not regain the ability to walk, they did recover a remarkable measure of urinary control," says Silver.

Being able to urinate again would bring a huge improvement to the quality of life for people with severe spinal cord injuries. Many patients rate it as one of the most important functions to regain following injury.

Paralyzed rats' bladders leak urine when they are full, but this doesn't happen in paralyzed humans: instead, the urine backs up into the kidneys. Without a catheter this would lead to kidney failure and eventually death.

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Nerve Cells Regrown In Rats With Spinal Cord Injury