Advances in spinal cord regeneration

Spinal cord injury continues to be a major cause of morbidity, particularly among young people involved in vehicle-related trauma, falls, and sports i njuries. Although research advances are still a long way from clinical trea tments, recent studies on animals have indicated new possibilities for reco very of function. In this review, these new Findings on the use of neurotro phic factors, antibodies to inhibitory molecules, electrical stimulation, a nd transplantation of peripheral nerves and olfactory glial cells, and thei r success in achieving functional recovery after adult spinal cord lesions are discussed.