The biggest part of the problem is that
the cell body contains the cellular 'equiv-
lent' of heart, lungs and gut - so the dis-
tal portions [beyond the severing] are
left, largely, metabolically-disconnected,
not just communicatively-disconnected.
There must be some means of 'artificial
respiration' for the distal parts.
Before they can be urged to grow
back to the cell-body-proximal parts,
the distal parts have to be metabolically-
sustained, which necessarily includes
bringing to them, not all, but a =lot= of
the stuff that would've 'normally' come to
them via axoplasmic flow from the cell
body.
This 'artificial respiration' of the severed
distal parts is the Hard thing to accomplish.
I think it'd be 'easier' to get the cell-body-
proximal portions to grow to 'replicate' the
distribution of the severed portions than to
develop the means to sustain the severed
portions and coax them to rejoin.
It's a Hard problem because the develop-
mental environment has long ago transitioned
away from a developmental purpose to the
demands of Adult functionality.
The useful method will have to re-establish
the developmental environment.
I expect this will, eventually, be accomplished,
and that it will entail an inducement of some
sort of whole-body 'vegetative state'.
Just my 'intuition' - the way the problem
looks to me.
ken [k. p. collins]
"Pylon" <s.ivy at espywireless.com> wrote in message
news:101lom9jrqis6fb at corp.supernews.com...
> [...]
> A fall causes total paralysis to the lower
> extremities.
> [...]