Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Stem Cells Repair Damaged Spinal Cords in Mice

Similar to the previous post. The things they do to these mice!

In this case they are looking at regenerating spinal cord neural cells. Injecting human stem cells into mice, after damaging the mice' spinal cords. The human stem cells develop into neural cells (of various types) and establish connections, such that the damage is reversed.

"We show that these [stem] cells make connections with the nervous system of the mouse in a way that is appropriate … and could mediate recovery," Anderson said. "That's a big thing."

And she should know.

Within four months, mice that had been transplanted with human stem cells showed long-term recovery of motor function.

Not quite as exciting as the self-healing mouse, perhaps?

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