Neurons from stem cells replace damaged neurons, precisely rewiring into the brain

Neurons from stem cells replace damaged neurons, precisely rewiring into the brain November 02, 2016, 11:22

Embryonic neural stem cells transplanted into damaged areas of the visual cortex of adult mice were able to differentiate into pyramidal cells — forming normal synaptic connections, responding to visual stimuli, and integrating into neural networks — researchers at LMU Munich, the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology in Martinsried and the Helmholtz Zentrum München have demonstrated.

As shown in this in vivo two-photon image, neuronal transplants (blue) connect with host neurons (yellow) in the adult mouse brain in a highly specific manner, rebuilding neural networks lost upon injury. (credit: Sofia Grade/LMU/Helmholtz Zentrum München)

The adult human brain has very little ability to compensate for nerve-cell loss, so biomedical researchers and clinicians are exploring the possibility of using transplanted nerve cells to replace neurons that have been irreparably damaged as a result of trauma or disease, leading to a lifelong neurological deficit.

Previous studies have suggested there is potential to remedy at least some of the clinical symptoms resulting from acquired brain disease through the transplantation of fetal nerve cells into damaged neuronal networks. However, it has not been clear whether transplanted intact neurons could be sufficiently integrated to result in restored function of the damaged network.

Stem-cell-derived neurons mirror connections of damaged neurons

Now, in study published in Nature, the researchers have found that transplanted embryonic nerve cells properly differentiated into pyramidal cells, forming normal synaptic connections, responding to visual stimuli, and carrying out the tasks performed by the damaged cells (videos here).

The researchers were also «astounded» to find that the replacement neurons grew axons throughout the adult brain, reaching proper target areas, and receiving V1-specific (from the primary visual cortex) inputs from host neurons — precisely the same inputs that the original neurons had received.

This includes neocortical circuits that normally never incorporate new neurons in the adult brain.

In addition, after 2–3 months, the transplanted neurons were fully integrated in the brain, showing functional properties indistinguishable from the original neurons.

The study was supported by funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Source: http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-from-stem-cells-replace-damaged-neurons-precisely-rewiring-into-th...

stem cells brain

or on to add a comment to scientific problem you are interested in!

Comments (0)

You may also be interested in

A little video game-playing 'linked with better-adjusted children'

A new study suggests video game-playing for less than an hour a day is linked with better-adjusted children and teenagers. The research, carried out by Oxford University, found that young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were associated with being better adjusted than those who had never played or those who were on video games for three hours or more. The study finds no positive or negative effects for young people who played ‘moderately’ between one to three hours a day. However, the study, published in the journal, Pediatrics, suggests that the influence of video games on children, for good or for ill, is very small when compared with more ‘enduring’ factors, such as whether the child is from a functioning family, their school relationships, and whether they are materially deprived.

Database

The database will assist you in finding companies, investors, research institutes and research centers of aging. We provide full information on public and private companies. According to our plan platform will give access to the world of projects seeking capital to analysts of the leading specialists in online communities, as well as to the global list of investors.

Fundraising

Raise funds necessary for successful work of your company, venture project or your idea.