German Scientists Make Mice Walk Again
2021-01-27
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1German researchers have found a way to regrow nerves of mice that could not walk, permitting them to walk again.
2The mice had been paralyzed because of injuries to their spinal cords.
3The researchers used a designer protein injected into the brain.
4It recreates a link in the brain that scientists had always believed could not be repaired once broken.
5Spinal cord injuries in humans are often caused by sports or car accidents.
6The injuries leave them paralyzed because some of the nerves that move information between muscles and the brain are not able to grow back.
7The researchers from Ruhr University Bochum were able to cause the paralyzed mice's nerve cells to grow back using the designer protein.
8The special thing about the protein is not only that it is used to cause the damaged nerve cells to regrow, "but that it is also carried further (through the brain)," the team's leader Dietmar Fischer told Reuters.
9The nerve cells regrow and that is "the reason why the mice can walk again," he said.
10The paralyzed mice that received the treatment started walking after two or three weeks, he said.
11The treatment involves injecting genetic information into the brain to make the protein, called hyper-interleukin-6, the university's website reported.
12The team is investigating if the treatment can be improved.
13"We also have to see if our method works on larger mammals. We would think of pigs, dogs or primates, for example," Fischer said.
14If they are successful working with larger mammals, then the scientists could try the treatment for humans.
15That, however, "will certainly take many, many years," he said.
16I'm Susan Shand.
1German researchers have found a way to regrow nerves of mice that could not walk, permitting them to walk again. The mice had been paralyzed because of injuries to their spinal cords. 2The researchers used a designer protein injected into the brain. It recreates a link in the brain that scientists had always believed could not be repaired once broken. 3Spinal cord injuries in humans are often caused by sports or car accidents. The injuries leave them paralyzed because some of the nerves that move information between muscles and the brain are not able to grow back. 4The researchers from Ruhr University Bochum were able to cause the paralyzed mice's nerve cells to grow back using the designer protein. 5The special thing about the protein is not only that it is used to cause the damaged nerve cells to regrow, "but that it is also carried further (through the brain)," the team's leader Dietmar Fischer told Reuters. 6The nerve cells regrow and that is "the reason why the mice can walk again," he said. 7The paralyzed mice that received the treatment started walking after two or three weeks, he said. 8The treatment involves injecting genetic information into the brain to make the protein, called hyper-interleukin-6, the university's website reported. 9The team is investigating if the treatment can be improved. "We also have to see if our method works on larger mammals. We would think of pigs, dogs or primates, for example," Fischer said. 10If they are successful working with larger mammals, then the scientists could try the treatment for humans. That, however, "will certainly take many, many years," he said. 11I'm Susan Shand. 12The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 13________________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15paralyzed - adj. unable to move or feel a part of the body 16spinal cord - n. a large group of nerves that runs through the center of the spine and that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body 17muscle - n. body tissue that produces movement 18mammal - n. a kind of animal that gives its young milk and has hair 19primate - n. a group of animals that includes monkeys, apes and humans 20We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.