UK scientists have discovered that stem cells can be used to prevent paralysis in rats with damaged spinal cords. To perform the study, scientists damaged the spinal cord of rats using gamma radiation. The damage caused by the radiation results in myelopathy (destruction of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves). 90 days after the initial damage to the spinal cord, the rats were divided into three groups, one as a control, while the other two were given different lines of stem cells. Within 167 days, all of the control animals became paralysed, however, 32% and 36.4% of those in the 2 groups that received stem cells were free of paralysis at 183 days.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.medscape.com 25th September 2000
