Increasing plasticity and functional recovery of the lesioned spinal cord.

In vitro assays have shown that adult CNS tissue, in particular oligodendrocytes and myelin, contains several molecular constituents (Nogo-A/NI-220, MAG, several proteoglycans) which exert neurite growth inhibitory activity. Elimination of oligodendrocytes or myelin, or application of antibodies against some of these constituents enhance regenerative growth and compensatory sprouting of lesioned and unlesioned fiber tracts in spinal cord and brain. Enhanced growth is paralleled by various degrees of functional recovery.