Reversal of Paralysis :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Reversal of ParalysisThis semester we learned about the paralysis of Christopher Reeves. In thinking about his condition, I began to wonder where researchers stood in their attempt to be restored paralysis. Paralysis was often considered to be completely irreversible. However, I found that the eventually ten years have brought huge advances in our understanding of the queasy system and spinal anaesthesia pile blot. Even though paralysis delinquent to spinal cord injury is still, for the most part, permanent, several drugs and techniques show compact in reversing the effects of paralysis.In order to understand the difficulties of curing paralysis, we must(prenominal) first understand the nature of spinal cord injury. When the spinal cord is injured due to trauma, there is localized death of the core cubicles. (1) The initial injury is only the beginning of the cell death. In the hours, days, and weeks following the injury, impudence cells continue to die above and below th e original wound. When the area begins to heal, chump tissue, fluid-filled cysts, and cavities occupy an area where the tissue was once healthy. (4) Many of the inwardness lineaments at the injured area actually separate into two pieces. The part of the fiber that is torn from the soma dies within 48-72 hours. This part does not regenerate, and cell/cell communication is lost below this point. Some cells, on the other hand, persist intact, but lose their medulla. Myelin is a fatty substance that is demand to conduct electrical signals along the axon. It increases the speed of transmission of signals from one nerve cell to the next, and without myelin the signal may deteriorate so much that it does not reach its target at all. (2) It is entirely possible that the nerve cells and their axons may survive the trauma, but paralysis still occurs because of the destruction of the myelin sheath. In order to reverse the effects of the spinal cord injury, the uncomplaining must receiv e treatment depending on which damage category their injury falls into. Methylprednisolone is the first drug which was proven to control spinal cord damage in humans. It is unclear exactly how methylprednisolone works, but it is thought to abase inflammation, the release of glutamate, and the accumulation of free radicals. Immediately after trauma to the spinal cord, tiny hemorrhages appear due to blood vessel damage. The resultant excrescence inhibits the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the nerve cells, causing them to die.