Paralyzed Rats Walk Again
May 31, 2012—Scientists in Switzerland have developed a method to help paralyzed rats with severed spinal cords walk—and even climb stairs—again. The team's cocktail of neuronactivating chemicals and electrical stimulation might be a precursor to future treatments for disabled humans, researchers say.
Transcript
Researchers have found a way to rehabilitate paralyzed rats with severed spinal cords to begin walking on their own again.
The breakthrough could be a step toward rehabilitating humans with similar injuries.
The study, at EPFL in Switzerland, involved injecting neuron-activating chemicals into the paralyzed rats, as well as applying electrical stimulation. Researchers say over time, one group of rats, while being held upright with a harness attached to a robotic system, were able to take steps on solid ground with their hind legs, and eventually sprint and climb stairs.
SOUNDBITE: Grégoire Courtine, EPFL Professor of Life Sciences: "And what we observed is that over time, the animal regains the capacity to perform one, two steps and then a long run, and eventually, a paralyzed rat regains the capacity to sprint on the ground, climb stairs, even pass obstacles."
While the robotic system holds the rats upright, the forward motion is powered by the rat. Previous studies have shown rats regain the ability to walk on a treadmill, but not by themselves.
The researchers say the finding may put a cure for paralysis in humans due to a severed spinal cord one step closer. Thus far, such a result has eluded scientists.
SOUNDBITE: Grégoire Courtine, EPFL Professor of Life Sciences: "The therapeutic impact of this type of intervention in humans is difficult to predict. But this very surprising plasticity in recovery that we have observed in the rat opens a promising perspective to improve function in humans with spinal cord injury."
The study is published in the June 1st, 2012 edition of Science Magazine.
