Biology

Human neurons implanted in mice plug into spinal cord to help heal injury

Human neurons implanted in mice plug into spinal cord to help heal injury
These organoids containing immature human inhibitory neuron precursors were implanted into mice in the study
These organoids containing immature human inhibitory neuron precursors were implanted into mice in the study 
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These organoids containing immature human inhibitory neuron precursors were implanted into mice in the study
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These organoids containing immature human inhibitory neuron precursors were implanted into mice in the study 

Treatments for symptoms of spinal cord injuries may be a step closer, as researchers at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have transplanted human neurons into mice with these injuries, and found that over time they made new connections in the spine, reducing chronic pain and helping the mice regain some bladder control.

Difficulties with walking may seem like the most obvious symptom of spinal cord injury, but according to a 2004 study, bladder control was ranked as the top priority for treatment by almost 20 percent of paraplegics, and 10 percent of quadriplegics. Like chronic pain, loss of bladder control is a symptom of inflammation following spinal injury, which damages inhibitory spinal circuits that use the neurotransmitter, gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). When GABA is lessened, the spine's ability to inhibit pain and control bladder function decreases.

The UCSF team wanted to test whether implanting human cells that produce GABA into mice with spinal cord injuries could reroute the damaged circuits, and whether that could help address pain and improve bladder control. To do so, they transplanted immature human GABA-producing cells into mice two weeks after they sustained an injury to the thoracic spinal cord, with the injection site being below the inflamed area caused by the injury.

When they checked in after six months, they found the cells had migrated towards the injured area, matured into inhibitory neurons and had actually formed new connections with the spinal cord, effectively restoring some function below the injury site. The mice showed significantly less signs of neuropathic pain and had much better bladder control when compared to injured mice that didn't receive the treatment.

"This is an important proof of principle for using cell therapy to repair damaged neural tissue," says Arnold Kriegstein, co-senior author of the study. "It brings us one step closer to using such transplants to bring much needed relief to people with spinal cord injuries."

While the experiment is an important step towards human treatment, the researchers stress that there's still plenty of work down that path. Future studies will investigate when the best time is for the treatment after the initial injury, and research possible safety issues regarding the transplant procedure.

The research was published in the journal, Cell Stem Cell.

Source: University of California, San Francisco

2 comments
2 comments
Gizmowiz
Yeah I can just see it now super mice rise up and kill off mankind like in the movie 'Planet of the apes'. Planting human DNA into any other animal should be strictly forbidden!
Imran Sheikh
totally agree with -Vincent. crossing human DNA,Stem-cell,Neuron or Anythings with any other species MUST never be done. and these Stupid People(so called scientists) are doing these experiments with a species that have a Exploding Growth Rate even 1% evolution of there brain would be Dangerous for us for other Species. you are acting like a Kid playing with matchstick in a room full of fireworks "its not Science"