Scientists at the Standard University School of Medicine have been able to successfully restore partial vision in blind mice.
Researchers were reportedly able to coax completely severed optic-nerve cables into regenerating and re-establishing connections with the appropriate parts of the brain. Through the study, they found a combination of visual stimulation and reactivation of the mTOR-pathway — a central regulator of cell processes — produced a substantial number of regenerated axons, which extend from the optic nerve to the brain, reportedly reestablishing a functional link.
The scientists believe their research may help pave the way for future work that would enable those who are blind to see again. The study was published online July 11 in Nature Neuroscience.
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Source: Stanford University School of Medicine