Adhesion Molecules-28

Advances and Experimental-3

Aging-9

Agricultural Biotechnology-37

Angiogenesis-29

Antisense-4

Apoptosis-49

Atherosclerosis-12

Autoimmunity-69

Bacterial Virulence-18

Bioinformatics-13

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Biotechnology-100

Cancer Genetics-25

Cancer Metastasis-19

Cell Biology-16

Cell Cycle-34

Cell Metabolism-327

Channels and Transporters-79

Chaperones-11

Circadian Rhythms-13

Coagulation-14

Cytokines/Growth Factors-52

Development-223

DNA-56

DNA Surveillance and Repair-42

Drug Design-17

Endocrine-66

Evolution-33

Extracellular Matrix-30

Gastroenterology-52

Gene Expression-178

Gene Therapy-53

Heart-61

Heat Shock Proteins-19

Hematology-11

Immunology-93

Infectious Disease-71

Ischemia-Reperfusion-33

Leptin and Leptin Antagonists-1

Medical-22

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Protein-12

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RNA-152

Signal Transduction-186

Stem Cells-80

Surgery-37

T-Cell Activation-12

Tissue Engineering-116

Transplant-51

Vaccines-82

Viruses-85

Chapter category: Tissue Engineering

Replacement of Specific Populations of Cells: Glial Cell Transplantation into the Spinal Cord

Chapter authors:
Antal Nogradi

In recent years an increasing number of results of successful spinal cord transplantation has been reported. Apart from theoretical interest the main aim of these experiments was to find a possible way to improve the consequences of spinal cord injury or neurological disorders affecting the spinal cord. With few exceptions these studies have focused on the survival of neurones, their ability to express specific neurotransmitters and functional improvements achieved by grafting. Glial cells have also been widely used for transplantation into the brain and spinal cord of normal animals and various mutants. A great number of these studies was concerned with the environment provided by glial cells and the putative trophic factors expressed by the grafts. Apart from grafting the two indigenous macroglial cell types of the CNS, the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, successful attempts have been made to transplant Schwann cells. These experiments showed that glial cells played an important role in the development, regenerative capacity and function of the spinal cord and the possible use of glial cell grafts in demyelinating and degenerative diseases had been suggested. Apart from some mainly theoretical studies concerning the development of glial cells in an alien environment such as the spinal cord, most of the recent investigations revealed several important features of grafted glia, (oligodendrocytes, their precursors and Schwann cells) namely their excessive capability to migrate and to remyelinate dys- or hypomyelinated CNS areas. Astrocytes were shown to migrate long distances along nerve fibres, blood vessels and through the parenchyma, often as far as the full length of the cord. Similar migratory pattern of oligodendrocytes has been reported by Gout et al1 (1988) in a mouse mutant’s (shiverer) spinal cord. This migration of astrocytes is of particular importance since grafted glial cells deposited at a central part of the spinal cord may exert their effect throughout the whole cord soon after grafting. Similarly, grafted oligodendrocytes may remyelinate substantially larger areas by spreading throughout a demyelinating cord. Schwann cells in addition to their extensive capability to migrate encourage lesioned and regenerating axons to extend processes and maintain their myelinating activity within the CNS. They are therefore used for grafting when regeneration of lesioned axons is required.

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