Stem Cells Reverse Parkinson's in Rats

[jolinar of malkshor]

Injecting neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells into rats suffering from Parkinson's-like symptoms allowed the animals to regain movement, according to a study led by neurologist Steven Goldman of the University of Rochester Medical Center. The downside is that the transplanted cells also fostered the growth of benign brain tumors.
Goldman's work builds on previous studies that explored the developmental cues involved in directing an embryonic stem cell to become a functioning neuron. He improved the technique by culturing the stem cells with astrocytes, cells that guide the maturing neurons, that he had taken from the dopamine-producing region of the rat brain. Up to 80 percent of the stem cells cultivated this way then began functioning like dopamine-producing neurons, Goldman reported in November in the journal Nature Medicine. When injected into rats with an artificially induced form of Parkinson's, the cells worked, as demonstrated by the animals' renewed ability to move.

http://www.discover.com/issues/jan-0...ine/?page=3#44


All the more reason to allow stem cell research. I wonder what the people that are against this research will say when they are afflicted with one of these diseases that could be cured by this research.

[Phanuthier]

Stem cells in rats are very different then the ones in humans. Many researchers have been able to specialize rat stem cells, but haven't been able to duplicate the same thing in humans.

Hardly a proof of concept

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Stem cells in rats are very different then the ones in humans. Many researchers have been able to specialize rat stem cells, but haven't been able to duplicate the same thing in humans.

Hardly a proof of concept

If you read the article....I am pretty sure it said it was human stem cells that were placed in the rat.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

If you read the article....I am pretty sure it said it was human stem cells that were placed in the rat.

It said......

that he had taken from the dopamine-producing region of the rat brain.

So it is Rat cells

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by HOZ

It said......

that he had taken from the dopamine-producing region of the rat brain.

So it is Rat cells

Ok....the stem cells are human cultured with rat astrocytes. So according to this article....the stem cells are human.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by HOZ

It said......

that he had taken from the dopamine-producing region of the rat brain.

So it is Rat cells

Injecting neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells into rats suffering from Parkinson's-like symptoms allowed the animals to regain movement

They used human embryonic stem cells along with rat astrocytes to produce neurons. Another amazing leap forward in medical reasearch.

Stem cells are the future of modern medicine.

I also hope that the research into using stem cells for spinal cord injuries continues to come along... my cousin had an accident 2 years ago and is now a quadriplegic at age 28.

[Frank the Tank]

I don't think Jesus would approve of these tests.....



Seriously though, awesome advances in science if they can help with things like Parkinsons.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I also hope that the research into using stem cells for spinal cord injuries continues to come along... my cousin had an accident 2 years ago and is now a quadriplegic at age 28.

An expert I see

Why is it that researchers can do almost anything on rats, but not humans for stem cell research? Is it the stem cell itself, the environmental influences (ie. region of the rats brain?) ... obviously its not a black and white, either or question, but a general idea is what I'm looking for.

There's a project I might be doing next semester on sorting stem cells. Not exactly stem cell reserach per se, but getting you researchers more stem cells to work with.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

An expert I see

Why is it that researchers can do almost anything on rats, but not humans for stem cell research? Is it the stem cell itself, the environmental influences (ie. region of the rats brain?) ... obviously its not a black and white, either or question, but a general idea is what I'm looking for.

There's a project I might be doing next semester on sorting stem cells. Not exactly stem cell reserach per se, but getting you researchers more stem cells to work with.

I think the simple answer is that a lot of the research has not advanced beyond animal testing as of yet and is not ready for clinical trials.

For the record I work at a hospital and there are already treatments conducted using stem cells currently.