Methods for culturing adult CNS neurons reveal a CNS conditioning effect.

Neuronal cultures provide a basis for reductionist insights that rely on molecular and pharmacological manipulation. However, the inability to culture mature CNS neurons limits our understanding of adult neuronal physiology. Here, we report methods for culturing central nervous system neurons in large numbers and across multiple brain regions for extended time periods.

Neural Stem Cells: Promoting Axonal Regeneration and Spinal Cord Connectivity.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to irreversible functional impairment caused by neuronal loss and the disruption of neuronal connections across the injury site. While several experimental strategies have been used to minimize tissue damage and to enhance axonal growth and regeneration, the corticospinal projection, which is the most important voluntary motor system in humans, remains largely refractory to regenerative therapeutic interventions. To date, one of the most promising pre-clinical therapeutic strategies has been neural stem cell (NSC) therapy for SCI.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor neuroprotective effects on spinal motoneurons after ventral root avulsion.

G-CSF is a glycoprotein commonly used to treat neutropenia. Recent studies have shown that the G-CSF receptor (G-CSF-R) is expressed by neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), and neuroprotective effects of G-CSF have been observed. In this study, the influence of G-CSF treatment on the glial reactivity and synaptic plasticity of spinal motoneurons in rats subjected to ventral root avulsion (VRA) was investigated.