Re: AND THEN, JUST TRANSPLANT THE BRAIN...

Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
22 Oct 1997 10:51:57 +0200


Joao Pedro <jpnitya@mail.esoterica.pt> writes:

> Your neurons might die because of the death
> of the cells that support them (the glial cells) and since you won't
> transplant these cells, you would still die.

Small nitpick:_ the glial cells are mixed up with the neurons of the
brain, if you transplant it, you will get the glial cells too.

> Anders Sandberg, I heard you were a neurologist or something like that.
> If that is true I would like to ask you a few questions: Can human
> neurons divide in adulthood? What about songbirds neurons (I read they
> could)? If you answer yes, can you tell how that happens or where can I
> find more information about it.

I have already answered this in a private mail, but I just realized
yet another way to get around the fact that neurons doesn't divide
well; I have a paper called "Neuronal progenitors as tools for cell
replacement in the nervous system", which explains how progenitor
cells, genetically modified fibroblasts and transplants can be used to
replenish the brain. Quite interesting stuff, but still in its
infancy.

@Article{Brustle96,
author = {Br\"ustle, Oliver AND McKay, Ronald DG},
title = {Neuronal progenitors as tools for cell replacement in the nervous system},
journal = {Current Opinion in Neurobiology},
year = 1996,
volume = 6,
pages = {688-695},
annote = {Review of progenitor cell transplantation in the CNS. Precursor cell recruitment seems to work in the mature CNS as some guidance cues still remain.}
}

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Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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