In a new study in mice, a team of researchers from UCLA, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and Harvard University have uncovered a crucial component for restoring functional activity after spinal cord injury. The neuroscientists have shown that re-growing specific neurons back to their natural target regions led to recovery, while random regrowth was not effective.

Scientists regenerate neurons that restore walking in mice after paralysis from spinal cord injury::In a new study in mice, a team of researchers from UCLA, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and Harvard University have uncovered a crucial component for restoring functional activity after spinal cord injury. The neuroscientists have shown that re-growing specific neurons back to their natural target regions led to recovery, while random regrowth was not effective.

    • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      222·
      1 year ago

      Animal testing has saved the lives of millions and improved billions. It’s gruesome, but necessary. Especially for research like this.

    • volodymyr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      It does make you wonder what caused spinal injury in these mice. I do not suppose there is a sufficient natural supply of these kinds of injured mice.

      But, if not animal testing, how do you propose to develop the treatment?

      • Ryantific_theory@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        1 year ago

        It’s a little grim, but there’s a standard SCI (spinal cord injury) guillotine that drops a weight with an angled wedge to cause a near perfectly replicable SCI. The mouse is sedated, but it’s not exactly a good time for the mouse.

        But yeah, the alternative is testing on humans, which, I really don’t think we need a reminder on why that’s super illegal.

    • lazyraccoon@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Animal experimentation should always be the last option, but an option nonetheless.

      Unless you’re talking cosmetics or some other meaningless bullshit.

    • Rooty@lemmy.worldEnglish
      43·
      1 year ago

      People who value the lives of small rodents over the lives of fellow human beings should have their heads checked, because their moral compass is seriously out of whack.

        • Rooty@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Their whole consciousness reduced down to moving forward and backwards in a toy car. Absolutely barbaric.

          You’re making it sound like they did it for funsies, rather than important research. Also, link please, this sounds like a massive breakthrough.