摘要 |
<p>Methods and compositions for modulating the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons are provided. Methods for stimulating the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons following an injury (e.g., stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, cerebral aneurism, spinal cord injury and the like) and methods for inhibiting the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons in conditions such as epilepsy, e.g., post-traumatic epilepsy, and neuropathic pain syndrome, are also provided. These methods generally involve contacting the central nervous system neurons with a purine nucleoside, or analog thereof. Preferably, inosine or guanosine is used to stimulate axonal outgrowth and 6-thioguanine is used to inhibit axonal outgrowth. The methods and compositions are particularly useful for modulating the axonal outgrowth of mammalian central nervous system neurons, such as mammalian retinal ganglion cells. Pharmaceutical and packaged formulations that include the purine nucleosides, and analogs thereof, of the invention are also provided.</p> |