Olfactory ensheathing glia: Repairing injury to the mammalian visual system

►Olfactory glia stimulate long distance axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells axons in the presence of reactive astrocytes. ►Olfactory glia transplanted to the injured optic nerve stimulates regeneration of RGC axons through the injury site and towards the optic chiasm. ►Olfactory glia can be genetically engineered to secrete CNTF. ►Olfactory glia were unable to myelinate RGC axons under the same culture conditions oligodendrocyte precursors can. ►Regeneration of RGC in vitro axons is promoted by a cell surface substrate and/or secreted factor not a secreted factor alone.