How Zebrafish Repair Severed Spinal Cords

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Swimming Spines

Zebrafish finally told us how they repair severed spinal cords. Well, more like a newly created map of their nerve cells showed us the way.

• Spinal cord damage kills neurons in most species

• Creating toxicity that prevents healing

• Zebrafish neurons quickly reprogram upon injury

These reprogrammed neurons buy time for repair cells to heal without a toxic threat. Future research will try to mimic zebrafish’s protections in human spinal cord treatments. Back to work!

One fish, two fish, back is new fish

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