Repair of neurons

Injury to the nerves of the arms and leg—i.e. the peripheral nervous system—regenerate in a complicated process of digesting myelin followed by regrowth.  Central nervous system neurons, however, don’t behave that way because, unlike the PNS’s Schwann cells, CNS neurons do not express VEGFR1.  Cell scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz showed that they could induce CNS oligodendrocytes to produce the growth factor needed for restoration. MORE

Image Credit:  Cell.com and Johannes Gutenberg University