Nerve Cells Can Be Switched on to Repair Damage

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin have found a way to coax peripheral nerve cells into repairing damaged axons. Peripheral cells extend outside the central nervous system into the arms and legs and are responsible for sensation. They contain long fibers known as axons that transmit impulses from the brain. They can be damaged in diseases such as diabetes, causing pain. The axons are surrounded by a protective sheath called myelin, a fatty insulation that speeds electrical signals...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mardi 20 septembre 2016