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German scientists make paralyzed mice walk again

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Stephane Nitschke and Zuzanna Szymanska, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/01/22/science-germany-genetherapy-paralysis.jpg"/><figcaption>A paralyzed mouse is removed from its enclosure in a lab at Ruhr University, where scientists discovered a way to restore the ability to walk in mice that had been paralyzed after a complete spinal cord injury, in Bochum, Germany, Jan. 21, 2021. <em>Leon Kuegeler, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>German researchers have enabled mice paralyzed after spinal cord injuries to walk again, re-establishing a neural link hitherto considered irreparable in mammals by using a designer protein injected into the brain.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/03/20/space-mice-tests-find-body-protein-possibly-combats-aging-jaxa">Space mice tests find body protein possibly combats aging: JAXA</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/21/21/turn-back-time-study-hints-at-way-to-halt-decline-as-we-age">Turn back time? Study hints at way to halt decline as we age</a></li></ul><p>Spinal cord injuries in humans, often caused by sports or traffic accidents, leave them paralyzed because not all of the nerve fibers that carry information between muscles and the brain are able to grow back.</p><p>But the researchers from Ruhr University Bochum managed to stimulate the paralyzed mice&#x27;s nerve cells to regenerate using a designer protein.</p><p>&quot;The special thing about our study is that the protein is not only used to stimulate those nerve cells that produce it themselves, but that it is also carried further (through the brain),&quot; the team&#x27;s head Dietmar Fischer told Reuters in an interview.</p><p>&quot;In this way, with a relatively small intervention, we stimulate a very large number of nerves to regenerate and that is ultimately the reason why the mice can walk again.&quot;</p><div><strong> RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cIHdEjXOpv8?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The paralyzed rodents that received the treatment started walking after two to three weeks, he said.</p><p>The treatment involves injecting carriers of genetic information into the brain to produce the protein, called hyper-interleukin-6, according to the university&#x27;s website.</p><p>The team is investigating if the treatment can be improved.</p><p>&quot;We also have to see if our method works on larger mammals. We would think of pigs, dogs or primates, for example,&quot; Fischer said.</p><p>&quot;Then, if it works there, we would have to make sure that the therapy is safe for humans too. But that will certainly take many, many years.&quot;</p>

<p>German researchers have enabled mice paralyzed after spinal cord injuries to walk again, re-establishing a neural link hitherto considered irreparable in mammals by using a designer protein injected into the brain.<br /> </p>

German researchers have enabled mice paralyzed after spinal cord injuries to walk again, re-establishing a neural link hitherto considered irreparable in mammals by using a designer protein injected into the brain.

German scientists make paralyzed mice walk again

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German scientists make paralyzed mice walk again

Stephane Nitschke and Zuzanna Szymanska,

Reuters

Published Jan 22, 2021 01:13 PM PHT

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Ruhr University Bochum

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