WEDNESDAY, Aug. 4, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Injection of immune cells into the brains of stroke-damaged mice encouraged nerve regrowth and repair, says a Japanese study in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The scientists collected CD34+ immune cells from human umbilical cord blood and injected those cells into mice within 48 hours of an induced stroke. The mice that received these cells showed an increase in new blood vessel and nerve growth in the damaged regions.
The scientists say their study demonstrates that new blood vessel growth is essential for repairing stroke damage. The findings also provide new information that may help in developing new therapies to treat stroke patients.
More information
The American Occupational Therapy Association has more about stroke recovery.
