Scientists: Rats partially overcome paralysis in stem cell study (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

Thursday, June 22, 2006; Posted: 11:55 a.m. EDT (15:55 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Paralyzed rats partially regained the use of a previously immobile hind leg in a study in which scientists injected the rodents with stem cells from mouse embryos, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

The scientists said they combined the transplanted stem cells with a "cocktail" of chemicals to help the paralyzed rats regenerate some of their nerve cells. This allowed a message from the brain to travel to the spinal cord and then to the legs of the paralyzed rats.

Results of the study were published this week in the journal Annals of Neurology.

Before the research began, the rats were given a virus that caused a neurodegenerative disease, paralyzing them.

In the study, 11 of the 15 rats made a partial, but significant, recovery from paralysis, researchers said. The rats recovered enough muscle strength to bear weight and walk on the previously paralyzed hind leg. (Watch as paralyzed rats move -- 1:59)
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/22/stem.cells.cnn/index.html

[noonwitch]

1. That is absolutely amazing!

Think of the implications for someone who is a quad or paraplegic-anymore movement is better than none at all. If a person gets use of his or her hands back, for example, it can make the difference between living independently and needing live-in help.

I'm not going to get into the politics of it all, I'm just going to be amazed at the miracle at hand.

[raccoon]

2. This is great news! What a difference this can make in some

peoples' lives.

Shout it from the rooftops: Some good news for a change!