Regenerative Neurorehabilitation and Neuromuscular Pathology / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

Regenerative medicine, which aims to restore, replace or regenerate cells and tissues using novel approaches such as iPS therapy, is currently a big issue in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Neurological recovery has been proved using marmoset monkeys with spinal cord lesions and Hematoxylin-Eosin and Luxol fast blue staining were adopted to identify the increased number of neurons at the spinal cord level. In regenerative medicine, pathophysiological findings demonstrating the recovery of motor units can provide direct evidence of neuromuscular function. In the field of rehabilitation medicine, the final common pathway, e.g. intramuscular nerve fibers and neuromuscular junctions, will be the target used to identify the recovery of motor function. Present physiatric modalities such as electrical or magnetic stimulations and therapeutic exercises will serve as the strategic applications used in neuromuscular regeneration treatments. The methylene blue vital staining method is a classical technique that when combined with the recently developed functional fluorescent protein staining along with transgenic procedures and confocal endomicroscopy examinations will illuminate our investigations into the degree of regenerative success obtained. These neuromuscular pathologies at the spinal cord level as well as the lower motor neuron level will allow us to more clearly determine the efficacy of various physical modalities used in rehabilitation medicine. The regenerative medicine era will require rehab efforts not only for treating spinal cord lesions but also for treating brain damaged patients in the future.