Fusogen-assisted rapid reconstitution of anatomophysiologic continuity of the transected spinal cord

Yijie Ye; C-Yoon Kim; Qing Miao; Xiaoping Ren

doi:10.1016/j.surg.2016.03.023

Fusogen-assisted rapid reconstitution of anatomophysiologic continuity of the transected spinal cord

Surgery. 2016 Jul;160(1):20-25. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.03.023. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Authors

Yijie Ye¹, C-Yoon Kim², Qing Miao¹, Xiaoping Ren³

Affiliations

¹ Hand and Microsurgical Center, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
² College of Life Science, Department of Bioengineering, CHA University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
³ Hand and Microsurgical Center, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. Electronic address: chinarenxg@126.com.

PMID: 27138179
DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.03.023

Abstract

The GEMINI spinal cord fusion protocol exploits the ability of so-called fusogens, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), to achieve rapid neural restoration of electrical continuity across the ends of a transected spinal cord. Experimental evidence suggests that motor recovery can occur after complete transection of the cervical and dorsal spinal cord in mice and rats following application of PEG. This allows for the possibility of spinal cord "reconstruction" in humans and even the possibility of head transplantation in the future.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Motor Activity
Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
Recovery of Function
Spinal Cord Injuries / surgery*
Spinal Cord Regeneration / drug effects*
Surface-Active Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

Surface-Active Agents
Polyethylene Glycols