Dogs able to walk after cell transplant (and it's not the cells you're thinking of)

Missing_Person · November 20, 2012, 10:00am

CAMBRIDGE, England (UPI) – A revolutionary transplant operation has allowed paralyzed dogs to walk again and may also benefit paralyzed human patients, British scientists said.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge said the pet dogs had all suffered serious damage to their spinal cords that left them unable to walk normally with their hind legs.

After specialized cells from the dogs’ noses were transplanted to the damaged nerves, most of the pets recovered their lost mobility and some were able to walk and even run on all four legs, The Independent reported Monday.

The technique, in which olfactory ensheathing cells from the nasal cavity are transplanted to the spinal cord, could have human applications, the researchers said.

“Our findings are extremely exciting because they show for the first time that transplanting these types of cell into a severely damaged spinal cord can bring about significant improvement,” Cambridge researcher Robin Franklin said.

Olfactory ensheathing cells protect the regrowth of nerve cells in the olfactory center just below the brain, cells that must be able to regenerate because they are susceptible to damage from the outside environment, Franklin said.

“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, but that’s a long way from saying that they might be able to regain all lost functions,” he said.

This is one of the first attempts at treating paralysis I’ve heard of that 1) did not come from the ethically grey area of using stem cells and 2) showed promise.

I’m pretty impressed.

Azure · November 21, 2012, 1:45am

Stem cells are about as much of a grey area, as Gandalf was a villain.

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NickRocks · November 21, 2012, 1:47am

I never saw the problem with using stem cells in the first place

this is excellent news as well

BEWD · November 21, 2012, 2:55am

Stem cells aren’t an ethically grey area. At all. What some people have problems with is the use/harvesting of embryonic stem cells, which is only one area area of stem cell research.

Missing_Person · November 21, 2012, 5:15am

My problem with the use of stem cells is the thing BEWD pointed out, the harvesting and the attainment of said stem cells. The usage? I don’t have a problem with it.

Neq · November 21, 2012, 9:37am

I think that the issue of harvesting stem cells has been solved thanks to these two teams who were able to revert adult cells back to their stem-cell potential:

Missing_Person · November 21, 2012, 9:47am

Nice.

That’s actually a pretty awesome development I was not even aware of.

voodazz · November 21, 2012, 7:42pm

I’m pretty sure that most forms of paralysis would have been done away with years ago if pro-life bible thumpers stopped cock blocking stem cell research.

Or not. I’m fairly ignorant on the subject. If anyone wants to enlighten me, go right ahead.

HD-Man · November 21, 2012, 7:55pm

This is awesome news right here. Hopefully they get this figured out to work on humans as well

Azure · November 21, 2012, 8:47pm

EXACTLY.

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pherai · November 22, 2012, 2:39am

but can we use “olfactory ensheathing cells” to make our own Shakee’s pizza?

orochizoolander · November 22, 2012, 3:21pm

Casa bonita>>>>Shakee’s pizza.

Also, jews suck.