Magical olfactory neurons

The dogs were paralyzed because of a spinal cord injury that was able to move again after the olfactory neuron transplants were taken from the nose.

The research just published in the journal Brain of the University of Cambridge (UK) has opened a great prospect for medicine: olfactory neurons show amazing ability to recover regeneration and regeneration of broken nerve connections. This is the first time this cell transplant technique has been applied to true trauma. Unlike lab animals that were actively injured and controlled by humans, 34 dogs participated in the program were injured, resulting in severe spinal cord injuries, paralysis of two legs after months , even years. The majority of dogs are teckel-like, with a long, short-legged body structure, often suffering from this type of injury.

Dog training - (Photo: Daily Mail)

Similar to stem cells

The researchers took glial cells in the dog's nose. These cells are protective layers for olfactory receptors. The nose olfactory system is the only place in the body where nerve cells continue to grow even after reaching adulthood. Thus, this is considered one of the most important research directions of regenerative medicine, only after stem cells with the ability to develop into any type of cell.

After separation, the olfactory neurons were cultured and injected into the damaged spinal cord site of 23 dogs. The remaining 11 dogs were in the comparison group, so they were only given placebo. Dogs are monitored for 24 hours to ensure that they do not react badly to this treatment before returning home. A few months later, most dogs were injected with olfactory neurons that could move their hind legs and began walking on the carpet with the aid of a safety belt. No children of the comparison group achieved the same results.

The cause of this 'miracle' is that the olfactory cells have helped nerve cells in the damaged area recreate the broken links. Professor Robin Franklin, a specialist in cell therapy and author of the study, said: 'The results are very positive because for the first time the olfactory cell transplantation method has shown a marked effect in a seismic. serious spinal cord injury '. According to Franklin, soon to be tested on humans, this treatment may also help patients paralyzed because of similar injuries that recover some of the motor function. It is likely that the method of olfactory neuronal cells will be used in combination with other methods to increase efficiency, such as medication.