ITRC develops Neurons for human brain cells
Sanjay M Johri, 17 November 2007, Saturday
Views:: 858 Comments: 1
The ITRC, Lucknow developed neurons for human brain cells.
Hopefully, Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases will become curable.
But scientists at ITRC maintain that `it is too early to say
anything'. Stem cell research may cure dreaded diseases.
IN WHAT IS considered as significant progress in stem cell research,
the Lucknow-based Industrial Toxicological Research Centre (ITRC) has
achieved success by developing neurons for human brain cells, raising
hopes that the dreaded Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases may find
cure.
"It is too early to say anything", says Dr. A.B. Pant, the scientist
at the In-Vitro Toxicology Lab of ITRC adding, "We have succeeded in
isolating stem cells from umbilical cord and trying to ascertain
which of the gene gets affected with the pesticides".
This is for the first time that such a research has been initiated by
one of the prestigious laboratories in India under the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
"We have developed technology to grow and develop neurons and results
might prove beneficial for treating diseases based on neuro-
deficiencies and deformities"
which part of the brain in an embryo (foetus development) gets
affected most and which of the particular area in the embryonic brain
gets deformed by the ninth month of the pregnancy", he said while
speaking to Merinews.
He said since embryo development took place in the fourth month of
the pregnancy, research was directed to ascertain in which stage of
embryonic development, the neurons get affected by pesticides.
Generally, it is the toxicity of chemicals which retards embryonic
development and results in stillbirths in the country.
"We have seen that pesticides alter the structure of genes and often
we find a child suffering from serious neurological disorder since
birth, Dr. Pant said and added that the ongoing research would also
tell something about the damaging effects of drugs and other
chemicals. In the process, the stem cell research might provide an
answer to many a dreaded disease, he said.
Scientists across the globe have been able to experiment with human
embryonic stem cells (HESC) only since 1998, when a group led by Dr.
James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin developed a technique to
isolate and grow the cells. Stem cell research is thought to offer
potential cures and therapies for many devastating diseases but
research into using them is still in its early stages.
Doctors have been transferring HSCs in bone marrow transplants for
over 40 years. More advanced techniques of collecting,
or "harvesting" HSCs are now used in order to treat leukaemia,
lymphoma and several inherited blood disorders.
Stem cells have a remarkable potential to develop into many different
cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the
body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other
cells as long as the person or animal is alive. When a stem cell
divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell
or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such
as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
http://www.merinews
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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