Endogenous radial glial cells support regenerating axons after spinal cord transection.

During the development of central nervous system, radial glial cells support target-specific neuronal migration. We recently reported that after implantation of chitosan channels with complete spinal cord transection, the tissue bridging the spinal cord stumps contained axons and radial glial cells. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the radial glial cells in the tissue bridges. Chitosan channels were implanted in rats with thoracic spinal cord transection. After 14 weeks, all animals had tissue bridges in the channels that contained many radial glial cells in longitudinal arrangement, some of which were in contact with axons in the bridges. We suggest that radial glial cells can guide regenerating axons across the bridge in the channel after spinal cord transection.