Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: thedoc on 25/10/2013 10:46:33
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Why can't the brain and nerve cells heal and other tissue can. There must be an evolutionary disadvantage?
Asked by David Bailey
Visit the webpage for the podcast in which this question is answered. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/neuroscience/show/20131020/)
[chapter podcast=1000538 track=13.10.20/Naked_Neuroscience_2013.10.20_1001490.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd) ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/13.10.20/Naked_Neuroscience_2013.10.20_1001490.mp3)
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We answered this question on the show...
We posed this question to the brain panel.
Bill - Skin cells replace themselves all the time. So, we’re always making new [img float=right]/forum/copies/RTEmagicC_dorsal_root_ganglia_02.jpg.jpg[/img]skin cells. Most of our brain cells we are given just one of each and they have to last our lifetime. There's not a lot of cell replacement in the brain. So, the question then becomes, if a cell dies, it doesn’t get replaced because we have no mechanisms to replace it in our brains whereas we have mechanisms to replace some skin cells or muscle cells, there's something intrinsic about the nerve cells that doesn’t let them re-grow so well. The distances are a lot longer in an adult than they were when they were connecting up as an embryo. When you get a cut in the central nervous system, there's a reaction, an environment that makes it difficult for cells to re-grow through that injured environment and connect that properly. So, brains have a couple of challenges in the healing.
Katie - I think it’s important also that the brain can adapt to induce to a certain extent. So, with other parts, the brain is working to take over lost functions from the damaged area even if that’s not sufficiently as it happened before. And also, that the brain does have some fairly strong defence mechanism. So, when you make a cut in your skin, it might happen in everyday life – you're doing some cooking, slip with the knife. But the brain, it’s protected. It’s in the skull. There's two membranes beneath the skull and between that, there's a cushion layer so to speak of cerebrospinal fluid. And then even beyond that, you’ve got what's called the blood-brain barrier which helps to control some substances that can enter the brain. The brain isn’t exposed to harm than in quite the same way as an organ like the skin in everyday life.
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One should note that in many senses, the spinal cord is considered to be an extension of the brain and doesn't regrow. And, as mentioned, if it did regrow, making the appropriate connections would be complicated.
Your peripheral nerves, however, can regrow, especially if given a good pathway such as a damaged nerve to grow along.
A modern human might have the opportunity to live in the ICU for an extended period of time after a traumatic spinal cord injury. Most animals, however, would die with a spinal cord injury. There would be little evolutionary advantage of a healing process that would take a year to complete during which the animal was essentially completely incapacitated. And, of course, animals wouldn't evolve to be on a respirator if the diaphragm didn't function following a spinal injury.
Arrested growth of brain and spine tissue may be an evolutionary advantage considering how unlikely an animal would receive adequate care for recovery following a brain or spinal injury.