Blobs of Human Brain Planted In Rats Offer New Treatment Hope 33
Blobs of human brain tissue have been transplanted into the brains of rats in work that could pave the way for new treatments for devastating brain injuries. The Guardian reports: The groundbreaking study showed that the "human brain organoids" -- sesame seed-sized balls of neurons -- were able to integrate into the rat brain, linking up with their blood supplies and communicating with the rat neurons. The team behind the work suggest that eventually doctors might be able to grow blobs of brain tissue from a patient's own cells in the lab and use them to repair brain injuries caused by stroke or trauma.
Chen and colleagues grew human brain organoids in a dish until they were about 1.5mm in diameter. The balls of tissue were then transplanted into the brains of adult rats that had sustained injuries to their visual cortex. Within three months, the grafted organoids had integrated with their host's brain, hooking up with the blood supply, expanding to several times the initial volume and sending out projections that linked up with the rat's neurons, according to the study published in Cell Stem Cell. The scientists did not assess whether the implants improved how well the rats were able to function, but tests showed that the human neurons fired off electrical signals when the rats were exposed to flashing lights.
Chen and colleagues grew human brain organoids in a dish until they were about 1.5mm in diameter. The balls of tissue were then transplanted into the brains of adult rats that had sustained injuries to their visual cortex. Within three months, the grafted organoids had integrated with their host's brain, hooking up with the blood supply, expanding to several times the initial volume and sending out projections that linked up with the rat's neurons, according to the study published in Cell Stem Cell. The scientists did not assess whether the implants improved how well the rats were able to function, but tests showed that the human neurons fired off electrical signals when the rats were exposed to flashing lights.
Zombie Rats (Score:5, Funny)
This is how you get zombie rats.
I don't remember voting for zombie rats.
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hehe
Maybe Master Splinter was a rat with Chuck Norris brain cells.
Re: Zombie Rats - can they cook? (Score:1)
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I don't remember voting for zombie rats.
You* vote for corporatism every time you spend money.
* I'm not tracking your spending habits so maybe you don't, but I bet you do
Re: Zombie Rats (Score:1)
Eventually... (Score:4, Funny)
If, in a year or two, we start seeing stories on how researchers have successfully transplanted blobs of rat brains into human subjects... we'll know the rats we're reading about here have managed to take over the lab.
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I was hoping one of them might become a good detective. Perhaps even a Great one.
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What about mice like Pinky and Brain?
Perfect petri dish (Score:2)
I imagine it's exceptionally inconvenient for pathogens - having to wait around potentially decades in some animal reservoir before a chance mutation comes along that lets them bind to human receptor proteins, then they have to wait another decades for someone to make an undercooked bat burger, and then they must exert themselves in an arduous refinement process as they try to up the efficiency on their clumsy first try at infection.
Now the animal pathogens can be in constant contact with human cells, and g
It's Not Working for Us, Either (Score:3)
Reminds me of.. (Score:1)
Pinky 'in' the Brain :-)
Medical treatment for Rats (Score:2)
Well I'm glad we were able to offer the rats such advanced medical treatment. Now they will live in my pantry forever.
In related news (Score:4, Insightful)
The reverse has already been accomplished (Score:1)
Rat brain tissue has already been successfully implanted in humans. Most of them are in Congress.
Lucky they could find rats in that condition ... (Score:2)
... it's really hard to get rats that have suffered brain injury unless their families took prompt action to get them medical treatment.
Beware biologists esp. those in medicine.
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Because rats weren't cunning enough... (Score:1)
In the 1500-1700s, within several years after human ships arrived, rats took over every island...
After this, maybe the rats will be too busy updating their social media...?
The Answer: Still 42? (Score:2)
The mice aren't going to like this ratty development.
Mandatory link for this sort of story (Score:2)
Rats everywhere (Score:2)
Rats everywhere are celebrating this great advance.
Secret of Nimh (Score:2)
This is the beginning.smart rats.
it has been proven to work the other way too (Score:2)
Congressmen are a prime example of successful implants of rat brain cells in people.
Why are we trying to cure rats (Score:2)
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It is possible that this may eventually result in a cure for stupidity, or at least lack of reading comprehension.
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Unexpected effects (Score:2)
The scrambled blobs of human brain may make the rats want to vote for Trump.