X-Message-Number: 4991
From:  (Brian Wowk)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Dendritic spines
Date: 14 Oct 95 05:50:51 GMT
Message-ID: <>

References: <45i9tf$> <> 
<> <>

	Okay, you got me.  I suppose the basic impossiblity of holding 
intelligent conversations with dogs makes that model inherently limited
in its ability to measure preservation of high level intellectual function.
What we really need is another electron microscopy study, like the one
recently presented by BioPreservation, but extended to include a long
period of cold ischemia.  Still, I would be very surprised if a 60%
loss of dendritic spines was compatible with the excellent neurological
outcomes seen in the 5-6 hour ischemic time dogs.

	Of course, there remains the possibility that long cold ischemia
wipes out declarative memory by a process OTHER THAN loss of dendritic
spines, which may be what you are alluding to.  But that is a separate 
question.

	Perhaps some of the people involved in those hypothermic dog
experiments (Mike Darwin, Steve Harris?) can comment on whether they
believe declarative memory survived in the animals, or whether more
elaborate studies could be devised to test this.   

---Brian Wowk  


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