Carbohydrate enhances nerve repair in mice

NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) Treatment with a carbohydrate called HNK-1 may enhance the repair of damaged ''motor'' nerves, the type that send movement signals to muscles, German scientists report in the Annals of Neurology.

Dr Melitta Schachner of Hamburg University and colleagues report that HNK-1 is found on the cover of motor nerves, but is not present on nerves that carry sensory signals.

Lab experiments have shown that motor nerves coated with HNK-1 display accelerated growth.

In the present study, Schachner's team discovered that mice with damaged motor nerves recover 93 per cent of their muscle function when treated with HNK-1. By contrast, with other active and fake ''placebo'' treatments, recovery never surpassed 76 per cent of normal function.

The authors believe that compounds that mimic the structure of HNK-1 could represent a useful treatment for nerve injury in humans.

REUTERS AKJ ND0942