电刺激促进中枢神经系统内源性神经干细胞的增殖与分化及在脊髓损伤中的作用

本文简要地回顾了半个世纪以来人们对于哺乳类动物中枢神经系统内源性神经干细胞(endoge-nous neural stem cells,eNSCs)的认识。eNSCs和神经前体细胞的增殖与分化贯穿生命始终,而不是传统学说所述的出生后神经细胞不再分裂。在脊髓,这些细胞将分化成成熟的少突胶质细胞及其它胶质细胞。笔者基于近年来植入功能性电刺激器(FES)治疗脊髓损伤的研究工作,回顾了在正常或损伤的实验动物中,将FES植入大脑皮质或周围神经干可以增加脊髓内eNSCs的分化与增生,进而促进脊髓再髓鞘化及组织修复等研究进展;同时探讨了将eNSCs和FES的研究工作与针灸,尤其是电针治疗相结合的可能性。

Electrical Stimulation Promote Proliferation and Differentiation of Endogenous Neural Stem Cells in Normal and Injured Spinal Cord

This article briefly reviews the general understanding of endogenous neural stem cells (eNSCs) in the CNS over the past 50 years. The proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors continue throughout the lifetime, instead of cell division stopping at the postnatal period. In the spinal cord, these cells differentiate into different kinds of glial cells. Based on his current research in spinal cord injury (SCI), the author reports that the implantation of functional electrical stimulation (FES) in the motor cortex or the peripheral nerve increases cell birth and differentiation of eNSCs in the spinal cord. Furthermore, electrical stimulation promotes remyelination and neural repair. Finally, this article discusses the possibility of the application of eNSOs and FES in electroacupuncture research.