Spinal cord reconstruction using NeuroGel (TM) implants and functional recovery after chronic injury

There is currently a lack of effective ways to achieve functional tissue re pair of the chronically injured spinal cord. We investigated the potential of NeuroGel (TM), a biocompatible polymer hydrogel, to induce a reconstruct ion of the rat spinal cord after chronic compression-produced injury. Neuro Gel (TM) was inserted 3 months after a severe injury into the post-traumati c lesion cavity. Rats were placed in an enriched environment and the functi onal deficits were measured using the BBB rating scale. A significant impro vement in the mean BBB scores was observed. Rats without enriched environme nt and severely injured rats with an enriched environment alone showed no i mprovement; however, 7 months after reconstructive surgery using NeuroGel ( TM), a reparative neural tissue had formed within the polymer gel that incl uded myelinated axons and dendro-dendritic contacts. NeuroGel (TM) implanta tion into a chronic spinal cord injury therefore resulted in tissue reconst ruction and functional improvement, suggesting that such an approach may ha ve therapeutic value in the repair of focal lesions in humans. (C) 2001 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.