Regenerative Nerve Fiber Growth in the Adult Central Nervous System

Neurite growth and regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS) is extremely limited. An important factor contributing to these restrictions is specific growth inhibitory proteins associated with oligodendrocytes and CNS myelin. A major inhibitory factor is the antigen of a monoclonal antibody; the application of this neutralizing antibody to spinal cord- or brain-lesioned adult rats induces long-distance regeneration of lesioned axons, as well as a specific increase in sprouting and rewiring of the cortical output system to the brain stem and the spinal cord. These anatomic changes are paralleled by important functional recoveries of locomotion and precision movements.