 |
|
Rutgers University Scientist's Research Reveals Critical Knowledge About the Nervous System
November 07, 2007Uncover the neural communication links involved in myelination, the process of protecting a nerve's axon, and it may become possible to reverse the breakdown of the nervous system's electrical transmissions in such disorders as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and cancers of the nervous system.
With $697,065 in grants from the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Injury and the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research, Haesun Kim of Teaneck, NJ, assistant professor of biological sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, is working on gaining a better understanding of those links.
Specifically, her work focuses on Schwann cells within the peripheral nervous system and their communication links with the axons they myelinate by enwrapping them in myelin. Axons are the long fibrous part of neurons that carry the nerve's electrical signals. A fatty substance, myelin covers those axons both to protect them and to provide a conduit for the fast conduction of electrical signals within the nervous system. Once that myelin is lost,the electrical signal breaks down and eventually the neuron dies - like a cell phone that loses its signal.
Determining how Schwann cells and axons communicate with one another could lead to an understanding of how to promote remyelination, the rebuilding of myelin, and restoration of that signal. One unique aspect of the communication link between Schwann cells and axons is that they
are mutually dependent upon that connection for their existence.
"When Schwann cells are generated during development, axons send out signals to the Schwann cells and tell them, 'You are going to become myelin cells and you are going to myelinate me,'" explains Kim. "The Schwann cells in turn guide the axons to where they need to go and direct the axons to grow."
By pinpointing the sequence and nuances of the communication links involved in myelination, targeted genetic and pharmacological interventions possibly could be developed to restore the loss of myelin. Such an understanding additionally may allow for the effective transplanting of Schwann cells in the central nervous system to promote remyelination and the correction of neurological disorders at that level.
The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Injury has provided $397,066 and the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research $299,999 to support Kim's research.
Kim received her M.S. in biology from the University of Toledo, her Ph.D. in cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy from the University of Cincinnati, and performed her post-doctoral work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School. She joined the Rutgers-Newark faculty in 2004.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Determining how Schwann cells and axons communicate with one another could lead to an understanding of how to promote remyelination, the rebuilding of myelin, and restoration of that signal. One unique aspect of the communication link between Schwann cells and axons is that they
are mutually dependent upon that connection for their existence.
"When Schwann cells are generated during development, axons send out signals to the Schwann cells and tell them, 'You are going to become myelin cells and you are going to myelinate me,'" explains Kim. "The Schwann cells in turn guide the axons to where they need to go and direct the axons to grow."
By pinpointing the sequence and nuances of the communication links involved in myelination, targeted genetic and pharmacological interventions possibly could be developed to restore the loss of myelin. Such an understanding additionally may allow for the effective transplanting of Schwann cells in the central nervous system to promote remyelination and the correction of neurological disorders at that level.
The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Injury has provided $397,066 and the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research $299,999 to support Kim's research.
Kim received her M.S. in biology from the University of Toledo, her Ph.D. in cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy from the University of Cincinnati, and performed her post-doctoral work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School. She joined the Rutgers-Newark faculty in 2004.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Nervous System Current Events and Nervous System News RSSAntibiotics: Single largest class of drugs causing liver injury
Antibiotics are the single largest class of agents that cause idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI), reports a new study in Gastroenterology, an official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.
Carnegie Mellon scientists offer explanation for 'face blindness'
For the first time, scientists have been able to map the disruption in neural circuitry of people suffering from congenital prosopagnosia, sometimes known as face blindness, and have been able to offer a biological explanation for this intriguing disorder.
Scientists discover 21st century plague
Bacteria that can cause serious heart disease in humans are being spread by rat fleas, sparking concern that the infections could become a bigger problem in humans.
Gulf War research panel finds 1 in 4 veterans suffers from illness caused by toxic exposure
At least one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness, a condition caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas, and no effective treatments have yet been found, a federal panel of scientific experts and veterans concludes in a landmark report released Monday.
New molecular insight into vertebrate brain development
In the December 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Fred H. Gage (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies) and colleagues reveal a role for the Hippo signaling pathway in the regulation of vertebrate neural development, identifying new factors - and potential therapeutic targets - that may be involved in congenital brain size disorders and neurological tumor formation.
In the war against diseases, nerve cells need their armor
In a new study, researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, and the Université de Montréal have discovered an essential mechanism for the maintenance of the normal structure of myelin, the protective covering that insulates and supports nerve cells (neurons).
Stem Cells from Monkey Teeth Can Stimulate Growth and Generation of Brain Cells
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have discovered dental pulp stem cells can stimulate growth and generation of several types of neural cells. Findings from this study, available in the October issue of the journal Stem Cells, suggest dental pulp stem cells show promise for use in cell therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly therapies associated with the central nervous system.
The miseries of allergies just may help prevent some cancers, study finds
There may be a silver -- and healthy -- lining to the miserable cloud of allergy symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, tearing and itching just may help prevent cancer -- particularly colon, skin, bladder, mouth, throat, uterus and cervix, lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer, according to a new Cornell study.
Hormone shows promise in reversing Alzheimer's disease and stroke
Saint Louis University researchers have identified a novel way of getting a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease and stroke into the brain where it can do its work.
Forgotten, but not gone: Leprosy still present in the US
Long believed to be a disease of biblical times, leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, continues to be seen in the United States. "Approximately 150 cases are diagnosed each year with 3,000 people in the U.S. currently being treated for leprosy.
More Nervous System Current Events and Nervous System News Articles
 | Aids to the Examination of the Peripheral Nervous System (Neurology) by Brain This new edition of the highly successful short guide to the examination of the peripheral nervous system has been brought up to date and includes new illustrations, to ensure it retains its place as the standard short text on the... |
 | Barr's The Human Nervous System: An Anatomical Viewpoint, North American Edition: An Anatomical Viewpoint by John A Kiernan This classic, succinct, well-illustrated textbook simplifies neuroscience content to focus coverage on the essentials and helps students learn important neuroanatomical facts and definitions. Descriptions and illustrations of the regional anatomy of the central nervous system are followed by accounts of the functional pathways. The level of treatment is suited to increasingly shorter neuroanatomy... |
| Who Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System (Who Classfication of Tumours) WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System is the first volume of the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours. This authoritative, concise reference book provides an international standard for oncologists and pathologists and will serve as an indispensable guide for use in the design of studies monitoring... | |
 | The The Nervous System Anatomical Chart Featuring classic illustrations by Peter Bachin, this chart shows nerves in the body, brain, midbrain, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord. Spinal meninges, intercostal nerves, and sagittal section of female pelvis are also... |
 | The Rat Nervous System, Third Edition This third edition of the standard reference on the nervous system of the rat is a complete and updated revision of the 1994 second edition. All chapters have been extensively updated, and new chapters added covering early segmentation, growth factors, and glia. The book is now aligned with the data available in the Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, making it an excellent companion to this... |
 | Development of the Nervous System, Second Edition by Dan H. Sanes, Thomas A. Reh, William A. Harris Development of the Nervous System presents a broad treatment of the basic principles of neural development as exemplified by key experiments and observations from past and recent times. The text is organized ontogenically, beginning from the induction of the neural primordium and leading to the emergence of behavior. It covers all the major topics that would form the basis of a comprehensive... |
 | The Nervous System: A True Book (True Books-Health) by Darlene R. Stille Describes the various parts of the nervous system and explains how sensory messages are sent back and forth through nerves between the brain and the... |
 | Sensitive Nervous System by David S. Butler David Butler's classic text updates and integrates the growing science of neurodynamics. Physical examination of the nervous system is carefully illustrated and explained. Management strategies are underpinned by cutting edge neurobiology and evidence-based medicine. Over 300... |
 | The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function by Per Brodal A major goal of this well-established textbook is to provide knowledge and understanding of neuroscience as a basis for clinical thinking. The strong emphasis on linking basic sciences with their clinical application has implications for the choices of which topics to treat in depth and which to treat more summarily - making this different from most other neuroscience textbooks. For example,... |
 | The Human Central Nervous System by R. Nieuwenhuys, J. Voogd, C. van Huijzen This book has become a classic in its field. The outstanding illustrative material still represents its main feature: 375 halftones and line drawings comprise a complete and convenient atlas for the interpretation of neuroimaging studies. Yet the text of this fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and expanded. Fifteen newly written chapters introduce illustrations of the gross anatomy, the... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |