Myelination and nodal formation of regenerated peripheral nerve fibers following transplantation of acutely prepared olfactory ensheathing cells

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are specialized glial cells that guide the regeneration of nonmyelinated olfactory axons. Transplantation of OECs into injured spinal cord results in improved functional outcome, possibly due to axonal regeneration and remyelination. This study explores how OECs integrate into peripheral nerve injuries, finding that they myelinate regenerated nerve fibers and help restore proper nerve structure.

• 1
  Transplanted OECs survive in the lesion and distribute along regenerated axons in the peripheral nerve.
• 2
  OECs form peripheral-type myelin on regenerated peripheral nerve fibers, indicating their ability to integrate and contribute to nerve repair.
• 3
  Regenerated axons remyelinated by OECs exhibit proper sodium channel organization at the nodes of Ranvier, essential for nerve impulse conduction.