PEG-assisted reconstruction of the cervical spinal cord in rats: effects on motor conduction at 1 h

In 1970, White et al. 1 , 2 carried out the first cephalosomatic anastomosis (CSA) in primates. However, the experimental animal was left paralyzed because of the inability to reconnect the spinal cord. In 2013, Canavero 3 , 4 made the case for a full human CSA (HEAVEN) in which the atraumatically severed cords of both a brain-dead body donor and a recipient would be reconnected via a newly developed spinal fusion protocol (GEMINI) relying on a special class of substances called fusogens/sealants. In 2014, on the back of Canavero proposal, 3 , 4 a Chinese group reported on the first step toward a full CSA in rats. 5 This study represents an initial experiment in rats, in which the cervical cord has been sharply transected and PEG applied. In particular, this study describes the preliminary findings of initial motor conduction recovery as assessed acutely (1 h) after sharp severance in view of more extensive trials in the future.