Testosterone for nerve fibre repair

To protect against attack, the body uses natural repair processes. What is involved in the spontaneous regeneration of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibres' This is the question addressed by researchers in Unit 1195, 'Neuroprotective, Neuroregenerative and Remyelinating Small Molecules' (Inserm/Paris-Sud University). They have discovered, in mice, the unexpected regenerative role of testosterone in this process. This could be a factor in the progression of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, which can present differently in women and men, and heralds new therapeutic opportunities. These results are published in PNAS . The myelin sheath allows the rapid transmission of information between the brain or spinal cord and the rest of the body. Myelin may be targeted by conditions known as demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or injuries that lead to its destruction.