Our researchers should be able to apply this to our needs to get axon growth to reconnect up our neurons. Ask your doctor which stroke research partner s/he is working with on this and when a protocol will be developed.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0006899317304900?via=sd
Brain Research, Volume null, Issue null, Page null
Min D. Tang-Schomer
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Abstract
Abstract
Axon growth and alignment are fundamental processes during nervous
system development and neural regeneration after injury. The present
study investigates the effects of exogenous stimulus of electrical
signals and soluble factors on axon 3D growth, using a silk protein
material-based 3D brain tissue model. Electrical stimulus was delivered
via embedded gold wires positioned at the interface of the scaffold
region and the center matrix gel-filled region, spanning the axon growth
area. This setup delivered applied electrical field directly to growing
axons, and the effects were compared to micro-needle assisted local
delivery of soluble factors of extracellular (ECM) components and
neurotrophins. Dissociated rat cortical neurons were exposed to an
alternating field of 80 mV/mm at 0.5 Hz to 2 kHz or soluble factors for
up to 4 days, and evaluated by of β III-tubulin immunostaining, confocal
imaging and 3D neurite tracing. 0.5 to 20 Hz were found to promote axon
growth, with 2 Hz producing the biggest effect of ∼30% axon length
increase compared to control cultures. Delivery of ECM components of
laminin and fibronectin resulted significantly greater axon initial
length increases compared to neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, GDNF,
NGF and NT3. Though axon lengths under 2 Hz stimulation and LN or FN
exposure were statistically similar, significant AC-induced axon
alignment was found under all frequencies tested. The effects included
perpendicular orientation of axons trespassing an electrode, large
populations of aligned axon tracts in parallel to the field direction
with a few perpendicularly aligned along the middle point of the EF.
These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that an electrode in
AC field could act as an alternating cathode that attracts the growing
tip of the axon. These results demonstrate the use of alternating
electric field stimulation to direct axon 3D length growth and
orientation. Our study provides basis for further optimizing stimulation
parameters, in conjunction of delivery of growth promoting soluble
factors to direct axon growth in a brain mimetic 3D environment. This
system provides a platform for studying the effects of exogenous signals
on nervous system development and for testing neuromodulation
approaches for neurological diseases.
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