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Effects of a neurotrophin gradient on axonal growth (host and graft axons) in rats with partial hemisection injury and NRP/GRP grafts |
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Effective repair strategies for SCI require the creation of a permissive environment within the injured spinal cord that allows axonal regeneration and provides neuroprotection. Because SCI is a complex, multi-component process that progresses in temporally distinct stages, we propose to maximize efficacy by delivering therapeutic factors in a space- and time-dependent manner to make them available in the right place at the right time. In this project, we will investigate the effect of a neurotrophin gradient on transplanted neural precursor cells (NPC) as well as regenerating host neurons. The neurotrophin gradient will be established by injecting lentiviral neurotrophin constructs distal from the injury site in which NPC will be transplanted. Outcome measures will include histology (graft survival, injury site), axon tracing (axon regeneration) and electron microscopy (synapse formation between host and graft neurons). |
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