Alipid extract of bovine embryo brain, administered parenterally, appears to accelerate axonal regeneration in rats whose sciatic nerve has been transected and repaired, New York City investigators report.
Early regeneration, as indicated by conduction of an electrically evoked action potential, is detected as early as four days after surgery in 44% of treated animals 5 mm beyond the transection. New axons have been histologically confirmed to this point and slightly beyond.
The biochemical nature of the operating factor is not yet known, according to Leo Soskind, PhD, research biologist and instructor in neurosurgery at New York University Medical Center.
Future Research
"Dose-response relationships and the mode of action of the active factor also remain to be worked out before contemplating clinical trials," he told JAMAMedical News.Dr. Soskind's present work grew from postdoctoral studies at Seton Hall College of Medicine on the influences of hormones, chiefly somatotropin, on nerve