Researchers published a new study in The Journal of Neuroscience claiming they have made significant progress in repairing spinal cord injuries, according to reports.
The new study showed the scientist's tests subjects, paralyzed rats, regained some bladder control after surgical transplant of nerve cells into the spinal cord, along with injections of a cocktail of chemicals.
Scientists aim to raise hopes for using similar techniques to treat paralyzed patients. According to BBC News, experts say it will take several years of research before human clinical trials can be considered.
"Nevertheless this is a remarkable advance which offers great hope for the future of restoring bladder function to spinal injured patients and if these challenges can be met we could be reaching clinical trials within three to five years," Dr. Elizabeth Bradbury of King's College London told BBC.
Researchers have experienced many difficulties with nerve cells; getting this particular type of cells to grow and form new connections provided challenging. Another challenge scientists faced is the body's response to injury, which is to create scar tissue that block cell regeneration.
With the challenges in mind, scientists tested a special "glue" that boosts cell growth together with a chemical that breaks down scar tissue. The goal of the surgery was for the nerve cells to grow and connect. The nerve cells were able to regenerate about 2 cm. The rats weren't able to walk after the surgery, but did gain some bladder functions.
"This is the first time that significant bladder function has been restored via nerve regeneration after a devastating cord injury," Dr Yu-Shang Lee of the Cleveland Clinic, and author of the study, said.
According to the BBC, Dr. John Williams, head of neuroscience and mental health at the Wellcome Trust, believes it is still too early to see if this technique would work on humans.
"This is one of a number of ways that one can approach restoration of bladder function in paralysed patients, but careful studies will be needed to optimise which of the technologies under investigation might be of most benefit to patients," Williams said.
