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Doctors
in Japan say they have restored movement to monkeys with spinal
cord injuries.
They
did it by implanting stem cells from the spinal cords of foetuses.
The
Keio University team claim it is the first time mobility has been
successfully restored to primates with spine injuries.
The
team was led by Professor Hideyuki Okano and he believes the work
could lead to treatment of the condition in humans.
But
he says the monkey cords were not completely mended, reports The
Japan Times.
The
group removed neural stem cells from dead foetuses, multiplied them
in test tubes and transplanted them into five marmosets unable to
move their hands or feet.
After
eight weeks their ability to grip sticks was 50% that of other monkeys
with full limb movement.
The
cells seem to have grown into place, completing the circuit. They
were implanted soon after the damage was done but after inflammation
had gone.
Story filed: 11:43 Tuesday 11th December 2001
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