Olfactory ensheathing cells and repair of brain and spinal cord injuries.

Cells generated in cultures of primary tissue from the olfactory nerves can be transplanted into areas of spinal cord damage where they induce growth of severed nerve fibers and return of lost functions. These cells are of two types, both essential for the reparative effect. The precise lineage relationships are not fully understood. The limitation of numbers of cells obtainable from human samples currently restricts their use to repair of small lesions.