Articles tagged with Axons
Researchers have found that nerve degeneration in spastic paraplegia is associated with abnormal mitochondria and impairment of axonal transport, highlighting a potential target for therapeutic interventions. The study suggests that preserving mitochondrial function may help prevent axonal loss in this devastating condition.
Researchers discovered a guidance mechanism that regulates nerve cell growth up and down the spinal cord. This discovery may help restore function to people with paralyzing spinal cord injuries by guiding damaged axons towards the brain.
After a spinal cord injury, the body's natural response can lead to larger, more debilitating lesions in the spinal cord. Researchers found that glutamate and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) over-stimulation cause secondary damage to white matter tissue and destroy oligodendrocytes, which protect axons.
In an effort to improve regeneration, Emory scientists treated severed nerves with enzymes that degrade proteoglycans. Axons regenerated through enzyme-treated tissues more effectively, extending over twice as far as untreated tissues.
A Johns Hopkins team has discovered a protein that stimulates axon growth, contradicting the traditional view of semaphorins as only repelling axons. Semaphorin-7a promotes axon growth by interacting with integrins on nerves and other cell types.
A new imaging technique, using second harmonic generation microscopy, allows for the observation of microtubule polarity in living brain tissue. This enables researchers to study neuronal development and repair, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered the first noxious cold receptor, ANKTM1, which detects 'noxious' cold temperatures and allows an influx of positively charged ions into axons. This finding may lead to pain-modulating drugs.
Studies have found that nerve cells in mature brains undergo metamorphoses and exhibit motility, reorganizing their structure to adapt to changing conditions. This discovery may have important implications for addressing diseases such as spinal injury by promoting recovery from synaptic abnormalities.
A new study reveals that the human brain can distinguish between thousands of chemicals using a 'fingerprint' pattern, while another discovery sheds light on pheromone-detecting neurons in mice that identify potential mates and social status. These findings may also aid in understanding animal communication and behavior.
Researchers at Salk Institute and UT Southwestern Medical Center identified a critical class of proteins controlling nerve connections from the eye to the brain. The study revealed how optic axons map their connections using Eph receptors and ephrin ligands, shedding light on neural development and potential repair mechanisms.
Fampridine-SR shows promise in reducing spasticity and improving bladder, bowel, and sexual function in patients with chronic SCI. The Phase 3 trial enrolls 360 patients at leading clinical centers in the US and Canada.
Scientists have identified brain chemicals that can stimulate nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury, providing a potential new target for intervention. By understanding how these chemicals interact with inhibitors, researchers hope to develop treatments to repair damaged nerve cells and improve outcomes for patients.
A Stanford team has discovered a permanent signal that controls the growth of axons in neurons, which can lead to paralysis. This finding suggests that age is not the key to an axon's inability to regenerate, but rather an outside signal from retinal cells.
Researchers have identified four chemicals that induce nerve regeneration in rat brain cells, focusing on the MAG-ganglioside interaction. The findings could lead to new treatments for spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis, but caution is needed due to the complexity of human neural systems.
Researchers previously thought mature nerve cells couldn't regenerate after damage. However, a new study reveals that altering naturally occurring compounds can restore regenerative ability in mature cells. The study's findings offer hope for developing new treatments for optic and spinal cord disorders.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine are exploring the role of growth factors in axon regeneration, with a focus on improving spinal cord repair. They have identified a signal transduction mediator that promotes rapid axon growth and widening.
Researchers created molecular-scale computing circuits that can carry out basic computing operations, paving the way for tiny but powerful machines. These circuits have the potential to translate conversations on the fly or diagnose illnesses quickly, and could provide computing power for decades to come.
David Meaney, a 35-year-old associate professor of bioengineering, has won the prestigious Y.C. Fung Award for his groundbreaking research on injury biomechanics and axon growth. His work focuses on how brain cells respond to mechanical forces, with potential applications in bridging damaged areas of the nervous system.
Scientists found that switching on the genes for GAP-43 and CAP-23 induces neurons to grow elongated nerve fibers, characteristic of regenerating nerves. This breakthrough suggests genetic therapy or drugs activating just a handful of genes might be enough to induce regeneration in humans with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that target cells, such as muscle membranes, have long and dynamic process-like structures called myopodia. These myopodia cluster with axon filopodia, forming a connection between neurons and muscles, enabling synapse formation.
Researchers train embryonic stem cells into oligodendrocytes, which can rewrap nerve axons and remyelinate damaged spinal cords. The study demonstrates a potential approach to restoring neurological function in patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Rats' brain composition changes until 180 days of age, with axon myelination increasing and visual information transfer between hemispheres potentially improving. The study challenges previous beliefs about brain growth and offers insights into potential neurological disorders.
Scientists identify key lipids essential for proper myelin sheath formation, providing new insights into myelin biology and multiple sclerosis. The discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying nerve sheath abnormalities.
Growing neurons have a limited time to create connections before risking a 'clockwork death' due to lack of life-sustaining chemical signals. Researchers discovered an intermediate control mechanism, called en passant, which helps prevent miswiring by providing support as axons pass through the target region.
Researchers successfully repaired severed nerve fibers using a novel approach that can restore electrical signals through the damaged area within minutes. The technique has potential to aid in human spinal cord injury repairs and could lead to recovery of lost functions.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that binding proteins are crucial for initial wiring of the brain. Without them, axons misfire and route randomly, failing to interpret cues that guide their growth.
Researchers found that muscle fibers strengthen their relationship with one nerve and ignore the rest, a finding that could help explain how memories are soldered into the brain. The study suggests that synapse elimination may be a step-wise process where the muscle fiber decides which healthy axon to keep.
Researchers discovered a specific molecule, ELF-1, that guides retinal axons to their proper destinations in the tectum. The molecule creates a concentration gradient that repels axons from incorrect regions, forming a topographic map of the visual world.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated that two naturally occurring growth factors significantly improved the ability of severed nerve fibers to reconnect with high accuracy. The study could lead to new strategies for improving peripheral nerve repair procedures in humans.