The Promising Role of a Zebrafish Model Employed in Neural Regeneration Following a Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event that results in a wide range of physical impairments and disabilities. Despite the advances in our understanding of the biological response to injured tissue, no effective treatments are available for SCIs at present. Some studies have addressed this issue by exploring the potential of cell transplantation therapy. However, because of the abnormal microenvironment in injured tissue, the survival rate of transplanted cells is often low, thus limiting the efficacy of such treatments. Many studies have attempted to overcome these obstacles using a variety of cell types and animal models. Recent studies have shown the utility of zebrafish as a model of neural regeneration following SCIs, including the proliferation and migration of various cell types and the involvement of various progenitor cells. In this review, we discuss some of the current challenges in SCI research, including the accurate identification of cell types involved in neural regeneration, the adverse microenvironment created by SCIs, attenuated immune responses that inhibit nerve regeneration, and glial scar formation that prevents axonal regeneration. More in-depth studies are needed to fully understand the neural regeneration mechanisms, proteins, and signaling pathways involved in the complex interactions between the SCI microenvironment and transplanted cells in non-mammals, particularly in the zebrafish model, which could, in turn, lead to new therapeutic approaches to treat SCIs in humans and other mammals.

Neurotrauma—From Injury to Repair: Clinical Perspectives, Cellular Mechanisms and Promoting Regeneration of the Injured Brain and Spinal Cord

“…A full description and analysis of the respective advantages of these approaches is beyond the scope of the present review, but they are described briefly below as a short summary, principally to highlight key limitations in the deployment of these models in advancing understanding of neurotrauma and regeneration in humans. For further reading on these topics, the reader is directed elsewhere [ 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ].…”