Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injuries

Dogs have high prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration and acute nuclear herniation, and therefore spinal cord injuries (SCI) are not uncommon. Most common causes are trauma induced by car accidents or spinal discs prolapse. SCI is a devastating effects, severely effecting emotional and physical well-being of the dog affected.

The first double-blinded randomised trial of the efficacy of intraspinal transplants of cells derived from olfactory mucosal cell culture in dogs was published in 2012 (Autologus olfactory mucosal cell transplants in clinical spinal cord injury: a randomised double-blinded trial in a canine translational model. N Granger, H Blamires, R Franklin, N Jeffery. Brain 2012: 135; 3227-3237). In this study dogs with severe chronic thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries were treated with autologous, culture expanded olfactory mucosal cells and examined for clinical locomotor and neurological assessments. At 6 months, the treatment group of dogs gains significant improvement in fore-hind coordination than the control group, demonstrating the intraspinal injection of olfactory mucosal cells improves communication across the damaged region of the injured spinal cord, even in chronic condition.

One of the researchers in the study, Dr. Nicolas Granger, veterinary specialist neurologist at Highcroft referrals in Bristol is offering SCI cell therapy to owners who like to have to have their dogs treated. The cells are supplied by VTB. If you want further information about this service please discuss with VTB or with Highcroft referrals.