Making paraplegics walk again.

Abstract

After attempting various types of research performed in different laboratories, this article describes the author's research that began in 1980 on rats, and continued since 1993 on monkeys. Also presented are results of the first clinical cases regarding operations performed either by rerouting the ulnar nerve to the lower limbs, or connecting the rostral stump of the severed cord with peripheral nerves of the hip to obtain rudimentary, but efficient, walking. Recovery occurred well in advance of the expected time, and continues to improve daily. This connection functioned even if the axons that activated the single muscles were from mother cells dispersed in different regions of the brain cortex, which fire together--such as in a teleassembly. Furthermore, function occurred although the upper motorneuron uses the neurotransmitter glutamate, whereas motor end plates use receptors for Acetilcholine. These data are under new investigation to determine whether the upper motorneuron changes the transmitter, or if the motor end plate changes its receptors.