Major trauma to the mammalian spinal cord often results in irreversible loss of function, i.e. paralysis, and current therapies ranging from drugs, implantations of stem cells and/or biomaterials, and electrically stimulated nerve regrowth, have so far offered very limited success in improving quality-of-life. However, in marked contrast with this basic shortcoming of ours, certain vertebrate species, including fish and salamanders, display the amazing ability to faithfully regenerate various complex body structures after injury or ablation, restoring full functionality, even in the case of the spinal cord. Despite the inherently strong and obvious translational potential for improving treatment strategies for human patients, our in-depth molecular-level understanding of these decidedly more advanced repair systems remains in its infancy. In the present review, we will discuss the current state of this field, focusing on recent progress in such molecular analyses using various regenerative species, and how these so far relate to the mammalian situation.
Skip Nav Destination
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Article navigation
May 2013
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
- PDF Icon PDF LinkEditorial Board
Review Article|
April 12 2013
Spinal cord regeneration: where fish, frogs and salamanders lead the way, can we follow? Available to Purchase
Juan Felipe Diaz Quiroz;
Juan Felipe Diaz Quiroz
1University of Minnesota, Stem Cell Institute, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 2001 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Karen Echeverri
Karen Echeverri
1
1University of Minnesota, Stem Cell Institute, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 2001 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, U.S.A.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 03 2012
Revision Received:
January 31 2013
Accepted:
February 05 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem J (2013) 451 (3): 353–364.
Article history
Received:
December 03 2012
Revision Received:
January 31 2013
Accepted:
February 05 2013
Citation
Juan Felipe Diaz Quiroz, Karen Echeverri; Spinal cord regeneration: where fish, frogs and salamanders lead the way, can we follow?. Biochem J 1 May 2013; 451 (3): 353–364. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20121807
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() View past webinars > |