Regeneration beyond the glial scar

Abstract

After injury to the adult central nervous system (CNS), injured axons cannot regenerate past the lesion. In this review, we present evidence that this is due to the formation of a glial scar. Chondroitin and keratan sulphate proteoglycans are among the main inhibitory extracellular matrix molecules that are produced by reactive astrocytes in the glial scar, and they are believed to play a crucial part in regeneration failure. We will focus on this role, as well as considering the behaviour of regenerating neurons in the environment of CNS injury.