Effects of implanted human hair keratin on the neural function and morphologic change of injured spinal cord in adult rats

The study investigated the effects of implanted human hair keratin (HHK) on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Using a weight-drop method to induce SCI, HHK was implanted at the injury site, and the BBB locomotion scale was used to assess behavioral changes over 30 days. Morphologic observations were conducted at 20 and 30 days post-surgery. Results showed no significant statistical difference in behavior between the control and HHK groups. However, HHK appeared to degrade and integrate into the injured spinal cord tissue, which included various cell types and structures. The study concluded that HHK might aid in the recovery and reconstruction of injured spinal cord tissue in rats.