The Cell Neural Adhesion Molecule Contactin-2 (TAG-1) Is Beneficial for Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Zebrafish

Contactin-2 helps in axon growth, guidance, and myelination during development. This study investigates its role in spinal cord regeneration after injury in adult zebrafish. The researchers found that contactin-2 levels increase near the injury site after spinal cord injury, suggesting it's needed for regeneration. By reducing contactin-2 levels, the study showed that zebrafish had a harder time recovering swimming ability and regrowing axons, indicating contactin-2's importance in functional recovery.

• 1
  Contactin-2 mRNA and protein levels are upregulated along the central canal after spinal cord injury in adult zebrafish, suggesting a role in regeneration.
• 2
  Knockdown of contactin-2 expression using an anti-sense morpholino retarded the recovery of swimming ability after spinal cord injury.
• 3
  Inhibition of contactin-2 impaired axonal regrowth beyond the lesion site and inhibited NMLF neurons from regrowing their axons.