Promoting oligodendrogenesis and myelin repair using the multiple sclerosis medication glatiramer acetate.

The formation of oligodendrocytes (oligodendrogenesis) and myelin is regulated by several neurotrophic factors. Strategies to increase the level of these trophic molecules may facilitate repair in demyelinating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Because leukocytes are a source of neurotrophic factors, and as glatiramer acetate (GA) generates T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes that are not known to be harmful, we tested the hypothesis that GA regulates oligodendrogenesis and myelin formation.

Quercetin in an animal model of spinal cord compression injury: correlation of treatment duration with recovery of motor function.

Objectives: We have shown previously that administration of quercetin after spinal cord injury in a rat model induced significant recovery of motor function. In the same model for spinal cord compression injury, we now have correlated the treatment duration with the extent to which motor function is recovered.

Methods: Seventy-four male Wistar rats were assigned to eight experimental groups.

Multiexponential T2 and magnetization transfer MRI of demyelination and remyelination in murine spinal cord.

Identification of remyelination is important in the evaluation of potential treatments of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Local injection of lysolecithin into the brain or spinal cord provides a murine model of demyelination with spontaneous remyelination. The aim of this study was to determine if quantitative, multicomponent T(2) (qT(2)) analysis and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), both indicative of myelin content, could detect changes in myelination, particularly remyelination, of the cervical spinal cord in mice treated with lysolecithin.

LacZ-expressing olfactory ensheathing cells do not associate with myelinated axons after implantation into the compressed spinal cord.

Studies have shown that implanting olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) may be a promising therapeutic strategy to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Several fundamental questions remain, however, regarding their in vivo interactions in the damaged spinal cord. We have induced a clip compression injury at the T10 level of the spinal cord in adult rats.

Olfactory ensheathing cells: historical perspective and therapeutic potential.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are the glial cells that ensheath the axons of the first cranial nerve. They are attracting increasing attention from neuroscientists as potential therapeutic agents for use in the repair of spinal cord injury and as a source of myelinating glia for use in remyelinating axons in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. This review mainly addresses the cell biological aspects of OECs pertinent to addressing two questions.

Amelioration of experimental allergic encephalitis (EAE) through phase 2 enzyme induction.

The multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion is characterized by an inflammatory cell mediated attack on white matter. Oxidative stress appears to play a role in the onset and progression of MS. We reasoned that decreasing oxidative stress might ameliorate MS.