Researchers Regenerate Spinal Cords in Rats

A tri-peptide has shown the ability to stymie the inevitable destruction of tissue in the brain's memory center by providing protective properties to neurons, and the same process was able to regenerate nerve impulses in rat spinal cords, allowing limited bodily movement after the cords were severed.

These dramatic findings are due to the work of researchers at the University of Helsinki (Finland) and the Johnnie B. Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida (Tampa, USA). "This breakthrough research paves the way for human application,” noted Dr. Huntington Potter of the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute. "The findings of this research have significant value and great promise for patients and caregivers, too.”

The tri-peptide lysine-aspartic acid-isoleucine (KDI) was identified by a systematic research to identify molecules involved in neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. The researchers said the significance of their findings is that the KDI therapy may become the first targeted medication for humans with central nervous system injuries such as spinal cord injury or diseases such as Alzheimer's that now have no cure.

"Our research indicates that when a tri-peptide KDI [derived from the neurite outgrowth domain of a large protein called gamma laminin] is applied locally after severing the lumbar spinal cord of adult rats, the animals recover significantly, and some are able to walk using their hind limbs,” explained Dr. Paivi Liesi, of Helsinki University. KDI was also shown to protect adult rat brains against neuronal death induced by a glutamate analogue, kainic acid. "If injection of KDI precedes kainic acid, the brain tissue is protected, i.e., nearly intact, and neurons appear alive,” added Dr. Liesi.




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U. of South Florida