Thursday, August 21, 2014

listening to SCIENCE 3D Brain – Swedish Radio

An artificial part of the rat brain was created by growing nerve cells surrounding a core of collagen fibers and silk. In the future it is hoped that a bit of the human brain can be built the same way.

By growing at a frame has the 3D model has become more complex than traditional neural cell cultures and looks a bit like a coiled cinnamon bun. Here are many different types of neurons from rat, both the gray and white matter, formed separate planes that communicate with each other.

3D model has been used to study how the brain tissue react to shocks. It simulates what happens when, for example, a fall accident. Another use is to see how the tissue reacts to toxic substances.

The model seems to have features similar to the natural rat brain. Nerve cells both to survive for several months and form new nerve connections. Ultimately, it is hoped, of course, be able to create small modules of functional human brain tissue to replace damaged areas.

Sten Grillner, Professor of Neurophysiology at the Karolinska Institute is positive.
– It is not surprising that cells communicate, but it is surprising that it has the three-dimensional structure, they survive long and nerve cells seem to be in good health and sends out nerve cell protrusions, nerve fibers, to communicate with other cells. So it is an important step forward.

pierre.martin@sverigesradio.se

reference: Tang-Schomer et al. Bioengineered functional brain-like cortical tissue . PNAS, August 11, 2014 DOI: 10.1073 / pnas.1324214111

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