TOP STORIES

Adult Brain Neurons can Remodel Connections
Elly Nedivi, associate professor of neurobiology at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, and colleagues found that a type of neuron implicated in autism spectrum disorders remodels itself in a strip of brain tissue only as thick as four sheets of tissue paper at the upper border of cortical layer 2.

SCIENCE

Neurons Derived from Embryonic Stem Cells Restore Muscle Function after Injury
Dalhousie Medical School researchers have discovered that embryonic stem cells may play a critical role in helping people with nerve damage and motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, regain muscular strength.

Not As Easy As It May Seem
Using adult stem cells to replace neurons lost because of brain damage and disease could be more difficult than previously thought, according to MIT researchers, because newly formed brain cells receive messages before they are capable of sending them.

Research Shows for First Time that Mammals can be Stimulated to Regrow Damaged Inner Retina Nerve Cells
The researchers pointed out the remarkable ability of cold-blooded vertebrates like fish to regenerate their retinas after damage. Birds, which are warm-blooded, have some limited ability to regenerate retinal nerve cells after exposure to nerve toxins.

IBM Building 'Brain Simulator' Computer
Working with five universities and the US Darpa defence agency, IBM will use simulations of the brain's neurons to create the first step on the way to a new kind of 'cognitive' computer.

ABSTRACTS

Nitric Oxide-Proton Stimulation of Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons Increases Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Phosphatase Expression in Neurons and Satellite Glial Cells
The goal of this study was to determine the effect of NO-proton stimulation of rat trigeminal neurons on the in vivo expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatases in trigeminal ganglion neurons and satellite glial cells.

Nerve Growth Factor Regulates Synaptophysin Expression in Developing Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons in Vitrostar
Here, the researchers show that nerve growth factor regulates the intracellular distribution of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin in newborn rat trigeminal ganglion neurons in vitro.

Vesicular Trafficking and Secretion of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2, -9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 in Neuronal Cells
Matrix metalloproteinase's are endopeptidases that cleave matrix, soluble and membrane-bound proteins and are regulated by their endogenous inhibitors the tissue inhibitors of MMPs. Nothing is known about MMP/TIMP trafficking and secretion in neuronal cells.

INDUSTRY

Stem Cell Sciences Signs Service Agreement with Pfizer to Provide Access to Proprietary Technologies and Methods
Stem Cell Sciences plc has signed a Master Service Agreement of up to five years with Pfizer Limited to provide research services, cell lines, media and reagents to support Pfizer's R&D efforts in this important field.

Pfizer Opens £40 Million Stem Cell Research Lab in Cambridge
Drugs giant Pfizer has pledged to invest £40 million in a new stem cell research centre in Cambridge.

Neuralstem Enters Collaborative Stem Cell Agreement for Huntington's Disease in Germany
Neuralstem, Inc. announced recently that it has entered into a collaboration with Professor Guido Nikkah Ph.D, of Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, Germany, to advance development of Neuralstem's human neural stem cell therapies.

Cellular Dynamics International Merges Companies, Closes on $18 Million Financing
Cellular Dynamics International announced recently the merger of sister companies Stem Cell Products Inc. and iPS Cells Inc. with CDI.

Sigma-Aldrich Enters Into Research Collaboration Program with D-Finitive Cell Technologies, Inc., to Develop Research Tools for Regenerative Medicine
Sigma-Aldrich announced recently it has entered into a research collaboration program with D-Finitive Cell Technologies, Inc. to support the development and commercial offering of 14 products over a two-year span, with a planned launch of many of these products in 2009.

POLICY

Obama Should Tap Personalized Medicine Tools, Leavitt Says
President-elect Barack Obama should explore tools of personalized medicine, such as genetic tests and online health records, to mend the U.S. health-care system, said Michael Leavitt, the outgoing health secretary.