University of California San Francisco researchers analyzed the impact of human neurons transplanted into mice with spinal cord injuries, according to Medical Xpress.
Cell Stem Cell published the study.
Here are five things to know:
1. This study represents the first study to successfully transplant human neurons to treat spinal cord injury symptoms.
2. The transplanted human neurons wired with the damaged spinal cords, resulting in enhanced bladder control and decreased pain in the mice.
3. The researchers hope their findings shed light on the promise of neural progenitors for enhancing the lives of spinal cord injury patients.
4. Next steps include reproducing the findings and pinpointing the ideal time for intervention in humans.
5. Researchers are wary of safety issues with transplanting neurons into human spinal cords; however, they did not report any negative impact on movement control in the mice.