Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University Medical
School, Japan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Shuichi Izumoto, M.D., Department of
Neurosurgery, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565
Japan. Tel.: + 81 6 879 3652; Fax: + 81 6 879 3659; E-mail:
sizumoto@nsurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract: Neural cell adhesion molecule L1 is a member of the immunoglobulin
superfamily; it plays an important role in neurite outgrowth in vitro. We
present evidence that the transected optic nerve in adult rats was promoted to
regenerate by transplanted L1-expressing cells that were embedded in the
Matrigel matrix. To obtain the maximum effects, a very careful operative
procedure by which both stumps remained attached and the blood supply was
preserved was essential. Visual evoked potential was partially recovered and
traced fibers were seen to pass through the lesion site 7 weeks after optic
nerve transection. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that
neurofilament-positive fibers were present around the site of experimental
lesion. Our in vivo study demonstrated that L1 promoted the regeneration of the
lesioned optic nerve in rats under strictly controlled environmental
conditions.
