Neurons Developed from Stem Cells Successfully Wired With Other Brain Regions
in Animals
ScienceDaily (Jan. 24, 2010) — Transplanted neurons grown from embryonic
stem cells can fully integrate into the brains of young animals, according to
new research in the Jan. 20 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
由胎盤幹細胞分化的神經細胞，可以轉植到年輕的動物的腦裡，並且連結整合在一起。
發表在1/20的Journal of Neuroscience.
Healthy brains have stable and precise connections between cells that are
necessary for normal behavior. This new finding is the first to show that
stem cells can be directed not only to become specific brain cells, but to
link correctly.
In this study, a team of neuroscientists led by James Weimann, PhD, of
Stanford Medical School focused on cells that transmit information from the
brain's cortex, some of which are responsible for muscle control. It is these
neurons that are lost or damaged in spinal cord injuries and amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS). "These stem cell-derived neurons can grow nerve
fibers between the brain's cerebral cortex and the spinal cord, so this study
confirms the use of stem cells for therapeutic goals," Weimann said.
To integrate new cells into a brain successfully, the researchers first had
to condition unspecialized cells to become specific cells in the brain's
cortex. Cells that were precursors to cortical neurons were grown in a Petri
dish until they displayed many of the same characteristics as mature neurons.
The young neurons were then transplanted into the brains of newborn mice --
specifically, into regions of the cortex responsible for vision, touch, and
movement.
Until now, making these proper cellular connections has been a fundamental
problem in nervous system transplant therapy. In this case, the maturing
neurons extended to the appropriate brain structures, and, just as
importantly, avoided inappropriate areas. For example, cells transplanted
into the visual cortex reached two deep brain structures called the superior
colliculus and the pons, but not to the spinal cord; cells placed into the
motor area of the cortex stretched into the spinal cord but avoided the
colliculus.
"The authors show that appropriate connectivity for one important class of
projection neurons can be obtained in newborn animals," said Mahendra Rao,
MD, PhD, an expert in stem cell biology at Life Technology, who was
unaffiliated with the study.
The researchers also compared two methods used to grow transplantable cells,
only one of which produced the desired results. "The authors provide a
protocol for how to get the right kind of neurons to show appropriate
connectivity," Rao said. "It's a huge advance in the practical use of these
cells."
Researchers will now explore whether the same results can be achieved in
adult animals and, ultimately, humans. Weimann and his colleagues also hope
to understand how the transplanted cells "knew" to connect in precisely the
right way, and whether they can generate the right behaviors, such as vision
and movement.
The research was supported by the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund, and
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
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還蠻酷的。
攻殼中的神經元晶片指日可待？ 科科
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※ 編輯: mulkcs 來自: 118.160.160.171 (01/24 17:34)