Factor isolated that regenerates nerve fibers

Rats whose retinas were treated with slow-release beads containing oncomodulin (plus a cofactor that boosts cells’ response to oncomodulin) showed dramatically increased growth of axons into the optic nerve (bottom)Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have discovered a naturally occurring growth factor that stimulates regeneration of injured nerve fibers (axons) in the central nervous system. Under normal conditions, most axons in the mature central nervous system (which consists of the brain, spinal cord and eye) cannot regrow after injury. The previously unrecognized growth factor, called oncomodulin, is described in the May 14 online edition of Nature Neuroscience.