Articles tagged with Glia
Researchers at Tufts University have identified a specific population of glial cells required for controlling circadian behavior in Drosophila, suggesting an autonomous glial mechanism drives circadian rhythms. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding diseases affected by altered biological timing mechanisms.
Researchers have identified Müller glial cells with stem cell properties that can regenerate the retina and restore vision in zebrafish. The team hopes to develop this approach for human use, potentially using a person's own cells to stimulate growth and repair.
Researchers found a pair of proteins that facilitate communication between axons and glial cells, initiating myelination. Understanding this process may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like MS.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago discovered that receptor numbers on nerve cells are controlled by brain's level of glutamate, a previously ignored neurotransmitter. This finding has implications for understanding perception, learning, and behavior, including homosexuality.
Researchers discovered a decrease in neuron density in the orbitofrontal cortex among alcoholics, which may lead to decision-making and emotional behavioral issues. The findings suggest that continued alcohol abuse results in irreversible neuronal loss, emphasizing the importance of stopping alcohol consumption.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new compound that selectively inhibits pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines by glia, slowing or reversing neuroinflammatory cascade progression. The compound also restored normal synaptic function and attenuated Alzheimer's-like behavioral deficits in mice.
Researchers have identified two proteins found in the Neurofascin gene that link glial ensheathment of nerve fibers to node formation. This breakthrough discovery may help find ways to improve nerve conduction in patients with conditions like MS.
A team of researchers, including Brandeis University, is studying the role of glial cells in individual synapses and neural networks. The project aims to deepen understanding of glial cell function and its potential impact on diseases originating from malfunctioning glial cells.
Researchers have discovered that glial cells in roundworms play a crucial role in forming tubes around neurons, similar to myelination in the human brain. This process is essential for neuron function and is also similar to the process of myelination, which is critical for healthy nerve impulses.
Researchers discovered two proteins, thrombospondins, that encourage new synapses to form in the brain. This study could help understand diseases like epilepsy and addiction where too many synapses form, and may lead to new treatments for recovering addicts.
Researchers have discovered that glial cells play a previously unidentified role in regulating the development of sensory hair cell precursors in zebrafish. This finding increases understanding of nerve cell development and may lead to potential regenerative therapies for human hearing disorders.
Researchers have discovered cellular changes in animal retinas that occur in human retinal detachments, implying experimental therapies could be effective. Oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce cellular damage and improve outcomes in animals, and further studies suggest it may also benefit humans.
Researchers have discovered new approaches to treating ALS using genetic techniques and growth factors. A study found that implanting cells to support motor neurons can help stave off the disease, while another team used RNA interference to silence a toxic mutant gene. VEGF was also shown to rescue motor neurons attacked by ALS.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are examining the effects of institutional care on brain-behavior relations. The study found that institutionalized children lagged behind those living with their families in cognitive, language abilities, behavioral adjustment, and neurophysiological indicators.
Researchers propose that schizophrenia may be triggered by an interaction between genes and viruses in glial cells, which can disrupt brain cell connections. This new hypothesis combines previous theories on the disease's causes, offering a potential explanation for its development.
A Stanford team has discovered a permanent signal that controls the growth of axons in neurons, which can lead to paralysis. This finding suggests that age is not the key to an axon's inability to regenerate, but rather an outside signal from retinal cells.
A team of researchers has identified the entire series of proteins that relay a message of survival from a neuron to a glial cell in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, shedding light on how cells 'know' whether to survive or perish. This discovery may lead to novel treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
Recent studies suggest that modulating glial inflammation may be an effective approach to delaying onset or slowing progression of neurodegeneration. New compounds described in a study selectively block production of IL-1B, iNOS and NO by activated glia without diminishing the production of other glial proteins.
A study published in Science found no new neurons in the neocortex of adult monkeys, contradicting previous reports. Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to analyze thousands of cells and conclude that mechanisms other than neurogenesis may be needed to understand brain function.
Brain researchers find that glial cells produce surplus cholesterol to support nerve cell growth and synapse formation. The discovery sheds new light on an often-disdained molecule and offers perspectives for neurobiological research and potential strategies to cure brain lesions.
Research finds that people with inherited depression have fewer glia cells in the brain's subgenual prefrontal cortex, a region involved in stress responses. This difference is not seen in those without a family history of depression.