Membrane fusion/repair in nerve cells: a biophysical application in spinal cord injuries regeneration

Abstract

Cell membrane has a critical and vital role in functioning and existence of nerve cells that form central nervous system (CNS) in mammals. Disruption of nerve membrane that normally occurs following an accident injuring spinal cord is known to be the major cause of paralysis. In most occasions, spinal cord injuries are not leading to complete cut in spinal cord fibers but are known to cause crush sites where the nerve membrane structure is destroyed. Parts of membrane in these fibers are later on interfused. In this study we are trying to employ different factors to promote membrane fusion, restoring the cytoplasm physicochemical condition and reconstructing microtubules networks so that the nerve fiber conduction is restored. The experiments are started in nerve cell culture medium where the application of various lipids in parallel to the implementation of electromagnetic field is meant to promote membrane repair/fusion. The base of this part of experiment is the introduction of specific lipids, compatible to those already exist in membrane, and are capable to reinitiate bilayer formation due to their particular phase transition characteristics. The nerve membrane healing recovery is monitored morphologically in culture medium. The follow up of the positive results is monitored in rats whose spinal cords have been injured experimentally. Behavior analysis of the rats, and their total scores obtained by means of know indices as well as somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) tests form the in-vivo part of the study.