X-Message-Number: 25649
From: "The NanoAging Institute" <>
Subject: Wisconsin scientists grow critical nerve cells
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:28:33 -0500

Wisconsin scientists grow critical nerve cells


MADISON - After years of trial and error, scientists have coaxed human embryonic
stem cells to become spinal motor neurons, critical nervous system pathways 
that relay messages from the brain to the rest of the body. 

The new findings, reported online today (Jan. 30, 2005) in the journal Nature 
Biotechnology by scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are 
important because they provide critical guideposts for scientists trying to 
repair damaged or diseased nervous systems. 


Motor neurons transmit messages from the brain and spinal cord, dictating almost
every movement in the body from the wiggling of a toe to the rolling of an 
eyeball. The new development could one day help victims of spinal-cord injuries,
or pave the way for novel treatments of degenerative diseases such as 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. With 
healthy cells grown in the lab, scientists could, in theory, replace dying motor
neurons to restore function and alleviate the symptoms of disease or injury.





http://www.nanoaging.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=908&mode=&order=0&thold=0


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