THE CNS LESION SCAR - NEW VISTAS ON AN OLD REGENERATION BARRIER

Scar formation represents a reaction of nervous tissue to any form of physical injury. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that t he scar composed of glial cells and several extracellular matrix molec ules constitutes an obstacle to axon regeneration in the CNS. This rev iew briefly summarizes the current knowledge on (a) the structural and functional features of the lesion scar and (b) the development of the rapeutic interventions to override this regeneration barrier.