The largest nerve of the body, the spinal cord is made up of fibers that carry messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves that branch along the spinal tract. Spinal cord injuries and disease result in varying amounts of sensory and motor impairment in tens of thousands of people each year.

View a second image of a cat spinal cord.

In hopes of finding new ways to aid those impaired with spinal cord problems, scientists frequently study cats. Cats are prime candidates for spinal cord research because they are more similar to humans than rodents and a significant amount of information about feline neuroscience already exists. Using laboratory animals also allows scientists to control factors that might otherwise confuse their results. Although some researchers work with computer models, they are not currently advanced enough to simulate the damage and recovery of spinal cords.

For many years, scientists believed that the adult central nervous system could not regenerate. However, recent research suggests that regeneration of the nervous system is possible and gives new hope to sufferers of spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord injury suffered by the actor Christopher Reeve, most famous for his role as Superman, in 1995 has brought an increased amount of public attention to spinal cord research. Although his horse riding accident originally left him unable to move or feel anything below the neck, he has made improvements that scientists previously believed impossible.