Scientists at Cambridge University have , a breakthrough they hope will one day have human applications.
Twenty-three dogs with spinal injuries were treated with a therapy that involves injecting the injury site with olfactory ensheathing cells from the nose, the only place on the body where nerve fibers continue growing into adulthood.
Many of the subjects can now move their back legs again and are walking on a treadmill with the aid of a harness. “We’re confident that the technique might be able to restore at least a small amount of movement in human patients with spinal cord injuries,鈥 said Professor Robin Franklin. 鈥淏ut that’s a long way from saying they might be able to regain all lost function.鈥
While the subjects regained use of their legs, higher spinal cord functions, like bladder and temperature control, remained inactive.
Via