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Science 25 April 1997:
Vol. 276. no. 5312, pp. 586 - 589
DOI: 10.1126/science.276.5312.586
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Reports

Neurogenesis in Postnatal Rat Spinal Cord: A Study in Primary Culture

Lois J. Kehl, Carolyn A. Fairbanks, Tinna M. Laughlin, George L. Wilcox *

Spinal cord injuries result in paralysis, because when damaged neurons die they are not replaced. Neurogenesis of electrophysiologically functional neurons occurred in spinal cord cultured from postnatal rats. In these cultures, the numbers of immunocytochemically identified neurons increased over time. Additionally, neurons identified immunocytochemically or electrophysiologically incorporated bromodeoxyuridine, confirming they had differentiated from mitotic cells in vitro. These findings suggest that postnatal spinal cord retains the capacity to generate functional neurons. The presence of neuronal precursor cells in postnatal spinal cord may offer new therapeutic approaches for restoration of function to individuals with spinal cord injuries.

L. J. Kehl, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
C. A. Fairbanks and T. M. Laughlin, Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
G. L. Wilcox, Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: george{at}umn.edu

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