ABSTRACT
From the earliest observations of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), it was believed that in the post developmental CNS, regeneration is significantly decreased in response to insult and injury (1). This poses a significant challenge for researchers in their search for a cure to spinal cord injury (SCI). The idea of a static posts developmental CNS is now challenged by the determination that functionally significant levels of neurogenesis occurs in the adult hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ) (2-4) and thus, contrary to initial dogma related to this topic, it appears that localized regeneration of CNS tissue is at least theoretically possible. Indeed, despite these challenges, early success was obtained with fetal tissue and=or fetal cell suspension grafts in improving function and augmenting regeneration following SCI (for review see Refs. (5-9). These pioneering studies provided the foundation for the hope that one day, with the appropriate intervention, regeneration of the injured adult spinal cord would be possible. Despite this optimism, issues regarding ethical and sustainable sources and availability of fetal tissue for transplantation have tempered advances in these areas of treatment.
