A group of scientists at the University of California combined a cocktail of drugs, daily exercise and eletrical stimulation to help paralyzed rats walk again. The tests were so successful the rats were even running by the end of their trial testing.
The study according to researchers proved that fiber regeneration isn’t necessary to make paraplegic rats walk again and they believe the same may hold true for potential human spinal cord patients.
Reggie Edgerton, the programs lead researcher released a statement in which he said that the spinal cord uses nerve circuits which can generate rhythmic activity without input from the brain, these inputs can then move the hind leg (in rats) in a motion that resembles walking. It’s not a perfect replication of a standard rats walk, but it s a huge step in the right direction.
The rats used in the study had “complete spinal injuries” with absolutely no use of their hind legs. They were then given a mixture of electrical currents, neurotransmitter serotonin and daily “training” to help them eventually support their full body weight while walking on treadmills.
According to the Inquisitr:
…The rats still weren’t able to walk on their own because the injury interrupted the brain’s connection to the spinal cord-based circuitry that allows movement of the legs. Prosthetic devices that stimulate movement may help solve this problem in the future, the researchers said.
You can find the full study in the online version of the journal Nature Neuroscience.
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