Patent ID: 7851447

Claim:
A method for increasing axon growth across a site of damage in a damaged nerve of the peripheral nervous system, wherein said damaged nerve is partially or completely severed at the site of damage, and has a portion proximal to the site of damage and a portion distal to the site of damage, and wherein said method comprises: applying at least one chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-degrading (CSPG-degrading) enzyme selected from the group consisting of chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase A, chondroitinase C and chondroitinase AC to the damaged nerve in vivo, and coapting the proximal portion with the distal portion; wherein axon growth from the proximal portion to the distal portion, across the site of damage, is increased compared to axon growth in a damaged nerve to which a CSPG-degrading enzyme has not been applied.