Video: Paralyzed Dogs Walk Again After Injected With Mucosal Cells

Researchers at Cambridge University may be on to something with advances in spinal cord injuries.  They injected 23 paralyzed dogs who had lost function in their hind legs with their own olfactory cells that had been grown in the lab.  As a result, many of these  dogs regained their ability to walk.

The cells regenerated the nerve fibers in the damaged portion of the spinal cord, however, it does not appear that this repair would occur over long distances.  Fixing functions like hand movement and bladder control will prove to be more complicated.

The video below is very encouraging.  As you will see, Jasper the dog had no voluntary movement in his back legs and had to be held up with a sling as he walked the treadmill in the beginning.  But after six months he was able to move all his legs and walk without help.

This may be hopeful news for people who have spinal cord injuries. 

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