Published: May 30, 2007 at 11:10 AM
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 30 (UPI) -- U.S. firm Neuralstem said Wednesday its
human spinal stem cells reversed paralysis in a rat model of a spinal disorder.
The company,
which said the finding has significant implications for humans because the
condition the rats suffered from also afflicts people, plans to file an
investigational new drug application later this year.
In the study,
which is published online by the journal Neuroscience, three rats paralyzed
from ischemic spastic paraplegia returned to near normal function six weeks
after receiving Neuralstem's human spinal stem cells.
Three other
rats did not regain the ability to stand up but showed significant improvement
in the mobility of their joints and muscle tone.