Neural Injury Research Unit, School of Anatomy, UNSW
Project Leader: Prof Phil Waite
Despite over a century of exhaustive research into spinal cord injury, we still have a limited understanding of the injury mechanisms and can offer no cure. Traumatic spinal cord injuries can lead to the devastating effects of paraplegia and quadriplegia and are particularly common in young people, especially from road accidents or sporting injury.
Is regeneration possible in the adult spinal cord?
As well as studying the neuropathology seen in human spinal cord injury, we are also using animal models of spinal cord injury to test possible interventions that could improve outcome. Recent studies indicate that damaged spinal cord axons are capable of growth and reconnection (ie useful regeneration) under certain conditions. One intervention which has supported regeneration of adult rat spinal cord is the use of specialised glial cells from the olfactory pathway, olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). OECs normally support growth of olfactory axons in the nose throughout life. Our studies, and others, are showing that these cells are also useful in injured spinal cord. For example, we have found that serotonergic axons regenerate across the transection site . In addition, rats with OEC transplants show locomotive recovery in their hind limbs.
Following these successful experiments, we are now investigating whether human peripheral OEC's have a similar regenerative capacity when transplanted into rat spinal cord. An honours student, Bryan Elston, is studying wehether human OEC's survive, migrate and divide in rat spinal cord. Showing that human cells can support regeneration in the same way as is known for rat cells is an important step towards treatment of human cord injuries.
Another approach to cord injury is to see whether damaged axons can be rerouted through guidance channels. Honours student Neil Buckland is investigating whether OEC's will allow growth of damaged axons through cut dorsal roots.
Collaborators:
A/Prof Alan Mackay-Sim, Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, Griffiths University
Dr Francois Feron, Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, Griffiths University
Dr. Stephen Ho, Research School of Biological Medicine, ANU
Melinda Venn, School of Anatomy, UNSW
Neil Buckland (Honours student), School of Anatomy, UNSW
Bryan Elston (Honours student), School of Anatomy, UNSW
Latest reports indicates that human trials may start later this year (2002) Only a minor surgical technique would be required to obtain the cells from a patients nose. (comment G. Wilson)