Damage and Repair in the CNS

Regeneration & Repair of Nervous Tissue

Although the nervous system exhibits plasticity, neurons have a limited ability to regenerate themselves
Plasticity – the capability to change based on experience
Regenerate – the capability to replicate or repair

Neurogenesis in the CNS

In the CNS, there is little or no repair due to:
Inhibitory influences from neuroglia, particularly oligodendrocytes
Absence of growth-stimulating cues that were present during fetal development
Rapid formation of scar tissue

In the PNS repair is possible if the cell body is intact, Schwann cells are functional, and scar tissue formation does not occur too rapidly
Steps involved in the repair process are:
Chromatolysis
Wallerian degeneration
Formation of a regeneration tube