Turning Blood Into Brain: New Studies Suggest Bone Marrow Stem Cells Can Develop Into Neurons In Living Animals

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Here is more detailed info on the bone marrow stem cell research.

From http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001204071615.htm I quote:

" Source: NIH/National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke

(http://www.ninds.nih.gov/)

Date: Posted 12/4/2000

Turning Blood Into Brain: New Studies Suggest Bone Marrow Stem Cells Can Develop

Into Neurons In Living Animals

For years, researchers studying stem cells have been intrigued by the

possibility that these cells might be used to treat brain diseases. Recent

studies have suggested that neural stem cells transplanted into the brain can

migrate throughout the brain and develop into other types of cells. Now, two new

studies show that bone marrow cells transplanted into mice can migrate into the

brain and develop into cells that appear to be neurons. The studies suggest that

bone marrow may be a readily available source of neural cells with potential for

treating such neurological disorders as Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain

injury.

While previous research has shown that bone marrow cells can develop into

neuron-like cells in culture, the new studies are the first to show that this

process can also happen in living animals. The two studies reached the same

conclusion despite many differences in how the studies were performed. The

results are reported in the December 1, 2000, issue of Science.

" These are extraordinarily important studies, carefully done, with clear

implications for brain disorders and for basic developmental biology, " says

Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D., director of the National Institute of Neurological

Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). "

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg ,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson@...