Cells from a mans nose made him able to walk again
Source: Discovery News
Published: October 23, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELIHboG8PZs&list=UUzWQYUVCpZqtN93H8RR44Qw
A man who was stabbed suffered injuries to the spin. When the spin is injured badly Glial scars form. These scars prohibit the growth of new nerve fibers, these fibers are known as axons. Without nerve fibers signals can't be passed to the brain. The man lost use of his lower body including his legs. The doctors took Olfactory Ensheathing Glia which stimulate the growth of axon in your nose and put them in the damaged spot in the mans spin. After six months of extreme physical therapy the man can now walk using leg braces and parallel bars. The process in not quick but hopefully over time the availability of this exchange of cell will be more common and will change the life of many more people with nerve damage. This video directly relates to the cell unit we are studying in class. This cell research reminds me stem cell research. The also reminds me of the evolution of cells and hot these cells in your back and nose must be very similar.
In the video, they said that they took olfactory ensheathing glia from his nose because it helped stimulate the growth of axons. Are there any other types of body tissue that stimulate the growth of axons? (e.i. why the take stuff from the nose)
ReplyDeletegood question I could not find any. I'm not sure why only the fibers from the nose stimulate the growth of these nerves.
DeleteAre the nerve fibers that are being destroyed also involved in sending messages directly to the brain? aka Did the man suffer from any brain damage or slight insanity due to lack of nerves in his spine?
ReplyDeleteThe nerves are cut off so no signs can pass from bellow the cut off nerves
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