Source: Goteborg University
Date: 21 August 2007
Summary:
Two substances that occur naturally in the brain act to protect the brain during a stroke. This is the conclusion of a dissertation published at the Sahlgrenska Academy, and the discovery may lead to new treatments for stroke patients. One potential treatment involves the activation of stem cells in the damaged brain so the brain can be repaired and regain its function. Stem cells are immature cells that reside in selected regions of the adult brain. These cells can develop either into nerve cells or into other cells that are important in the brain, such as astrocytes. Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain, and they play an important role when the brain is damaged. The dissertation shows that activated astrocytes release substances that activate stem cells within the brain.
