Source: Korea Times
Posted: October 22, 2006
Summary:
A team of international scientists has found through rodent experiments that embryonic stem cells can help control psychological disorders, such as depression. The scientists were able to differentiate embryonic stem cells into dopamine and serotonin-producing nerve cells while devising a model of psychiatric disease for applying and evaluating the stem cells on approximately 80 animals. After injecting the mice with embryonic stem cells, the scientists reported the animals behaved as if they had taken anti-depressant medication. The study's lead scientists concluded "the tests demonstrate embryonic stem cells may be used to treat mental diseases in the future.’’
Commentary: Hopefully this finding can be successfully replicated in humans and treat mental illness in a large and diverse patient population.
No comments:
Post a Comment