Stem Cells Work in Injury of Spinal Cord

Some tissues continue to stem cells after it become specialized, but these cells are less flexible than embryonic stem cells, Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent Meaning that they are capable to become any of the more than 200 types of speciality cells of our body (heart muscle cells, skin cells, nerve cells) When a tissue get diseased or damaged Stem cells in theory can replace or repair them.

Scientist often extract the stem cells from a organism prior to birth which destroys the organism, But once stem cell is harvested they can live on their own in lab copying themselves and create a lineage or line for future research in areas like spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury is incredibly complex, When spinal cord injury occurs many things go wrong simultaneously or with short notice, When stem cells are attracted towards these area of injury what it may do is to read the some of 'Q's and become missing nerves cell or stem cell may provide a bridge between spinal cord.

To persuade a bridge idea Dr.Synder worked with white rats with spinal cord injury, he divided them into two groups, One group is left unnoticed for another he made scaffold made out with surgical sutures he layed stem cells on them and put this scaffold in affected area of spinal cord. He knew that it provide enough support and also enough time for stem cells to start communicating with the injured spinal cord, Spinal cord starts communicating with these young immature cell to start moulding.

Results were encouraging after 2and half months he saw that rats, which had injury in spinal cord, have been significantly improved they are able to walk.

Reference:

1.      www.namiscc.org/newsletters/December01/SCI-stem-cell-research.htm

2.      www.mja.com.au/public/issues/180_12_210604/ros10016_fm.html

3.      www.blogicus.com/archives/adult_stem_cells_and_spinal_cord_injuries.php

 4.      www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sci/detail_sci.htm