A Mathematical Model of Regenerative Axon Growing along Glial Scar after Spinal Cord Injury

Figure 1

The effects of the release rate of growth inhibitory factors on regenerating axons growing along glial scar ( = 3%, 5%, and 7%). (a) = 3%; . When the release rate of growth inhibitory factors was relatively low ( = 3%), regenerating axons could successfully navigate across the glial scar and connect to their target cells with the support of Schwann cells and the guidance of NTFs concentration gradients of the target cells. (b) = 5%; . When the release rate of growth inhibitory factors was relatively high ( = 5%), some axons could grow successfully to reestablish connections with their target cells, whereas others stopped growing when they reached halfway. (c) = 7%; . All regenerating axons immediately stopped growing when they encountered the glial scar when the release rate of growth inhibitory factors was over 7%.

(a)

(b)

(c)