In the primary olfactory pathway axons of olfactory neurons (ONs) are accompanied by ensheathing cells (ECs) as the fibres course towards the olfactory bulb. Ensheathing cells are thought to play an important role in promoting and guiding olfactory axons to their appropriate target. In recent years, studies have shown that transplants of ECs into lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) are ...

A large body of work supports the proposal that transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) into nerve or spinal cord injuries can promote axonal regeneration and remyelination. Yet, some investigators have questioned whether the transplanted OECs associate with axons and form peripheral myelin, or if they recruit endogenous Schwann cells that form myelin. Olfactory bulbs from transge...

Neurotrauma injuries are notoriously difficult to deal with both clinically as well experimentally, the cellular and molecular events ensuing after injury complicate neuroinflammatory processes. Spinal cord further complicated by formation of scars at sites, which can provide a physical barrier repair. The lack effective clinical therapy for spinal underscores need experimental approaches gener...

background: olfactory ensheathing glia (oeg) has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect after being transplanted in rats with spinal cord injury. this study was conducted to determine the possible beneficial results of olfactory mucosa transplantation (omt) which is a source of oeg on functional recovery and axonal regeneration after transection of the sciatic nerve. methods: in this study...

The rostral migratory stream (RMS) is the main pathway by which newly born subventricular zone cells reach the olfactory bulb (OB) in rodents. However, the RMS in the adult human brain has been elusive. We demonstrate the presence of a human RMS, which is unexpectedly organized around a lateral ventricular extension reaching the OB, and illustrate the neuroblasts in it. The RMS ensheathing the ...

Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs) ensheathe unmyelinated olfactory axons and exhibit antigenic and morphological characteristics both of astrocytes and of Schwann Cells (SCs). As a matter of fact they express an astrocyte-specific marker (GFAP) and low-affinity p75 nerve growth factor receptor (p75 NGFr), S100, as well as adhesion molecules such as laminin and N-CAM like SCs. Immunocytochemica...

l-Serine is synthesized from glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate and is an indispensable precursor for the synthesis of proteins, membrane lipids, nucleotides, and neuroactive amino acids d-serine and glycine. We have recently shown that l-serine and its interconvertible glycine act as Bergmann glia-derived trophic factors for cerebellar Purkinje cells. To investigate whether such a meta...

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) have been successfully used to stimulate the growth of injured fibers and to promote functional recovery within the injured adult CNS. These cells exhibit functional properties, which are known to be involved in axonal elongation. OEC express high level of growth factors including NGF, GDNF, BDNF and NT-3, which are known to play an important role in nerve rege...