人類大腦或脊髓損傷后，一般都會(huì)導(dǎo)致終身殘疾,，周圍神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)能否再生全憑運(yùn)氣,，但在生物界，神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)能以一種完全不同的方式重新修復(fù),。
澳大利亞和美國研究人員聯(lián)合研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，一種線蟲具有與傳統(tǒng)模式完全不同的神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)再生機(jī)制，新機(jī)制對人類神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)修復(fù)具有重要意義,。該研究發(fā)表在《發(fā)育動(dòng)力學(xué)》雜志上,。
澳大利亞昆士蘭大學(xué)腦科學(xué)研究院（QBI）和美國紐約艾伯特·愛因斯坦醫(yī)學(xué)院、得克薩斯大學(xué)奧斯汀分校共同進(jìn)行了這項(xiàng)研究,，試驗(yàn)對象是一種名為Caenorhabditis elegans（C. elegans）的線蟲,。這種線蟲的神經(jīng)軸突再生機(jī)制與傳統(tǒng)模式完全不同，是一種軸突融合的過程。軸突是神經(jīng)元之間像電纜似的結(jié)構(gòu),，負(fù)責(zé)傳導(dǎo)電流脈沖,。QBI馬斯莫·希利亞德博士在實(shí)驗(yàn)室中利用熒光圖像研究軸突融合過程時(shí)發(fā)現(xiàn)， C. elegans線蟲是在損傷的位點(diǎn)架起橋梁,，讓切斷的軸突重新恢復(fù)原來的軌道,，而傳統(tǒng)模式是在遠(yuǎn)離“出事地點(diǎn)”的地方再生整個(gè)“電纜”。
研究小組成員之一,、博士后布倫特·諾依曼說：“神經(jīng)損傷后會(huì)以多種不同的方式重新連接,。而軸突融合是一種效率很高的方式，能在目標(biāo)組織之間重建神經(jīng)連接,。這一過程在淡水鰲蝦,、蚯蚓、水蛭和線蟲中都存在,。”
由于對C. elegans進(jìn)行基因分析非常容易,，研究人員下一步將集中研究調(diào)控該過程的細(xì)胞和分子機(jī)制，即機(jī)體無法正常工作后,，這一程序是如何啟動(dòng)的,。未來我們或可在人類中發(fā)現(xiàn)類似過程，研制出人類神經(jīng)修復(fù)的新方法,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Developmental Dynamics DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22606
Axonal regeneration proceeds through specific axonal fusion in transected C. elegans neurons
Brent Neumann1, Ken C. Q. Nguyen2, David H. Hall2, Adela Ben-Yakar3, Massimo A. Hilliard1,*Article first published online: 17 MAR 2011
Keywords:axonal fusion;axonal regeneration;C. elegans;axonal degeneration
Abstract
Functional neuronal recovery following injury arises when severed axons reconnect with their targets. In Caenorhabditis elegans following laser-induced axotomy, the axon still attached to the cell body is able to regrow and reconnect with its separated distal fragment. Here we show that reconnection of separated axon fragments during regeneration of C. elegans mechanosensory neurons occurs through a mechanism of axonal fusion, which prevents Wallerian degeneration of the distal fragment. Through electron microscopy analysis and imaging with the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Kaede, we show that the fusion process re-establishes membrane continuity and repristinates anterograde and retrograde cytoplasmic diffusion. We also provide evidence that axonal fusion occurs with a remarkable level of accuracy, with the proximal re-growing axon recognizing its own separated distal fragment. Thus, efficient axonal regeneration can occur by selective reconnection and fusion of separated axonal fragments beyond an injury site, with restoration of the damaged neuronal tract.
