t enough just to have new cells produced," said Bittman. "You need to know if the cells are actually working." Although the research was conducted on hamsters, scientists hope that this insight into how neurons are produced, and how they behave, may be a step toward new treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke, which are related to the premature death or dysfunctioning of neurons.

The next step, Bittman says, is to determine whether neurons produced during adulthood respond only to sexual stimuli, and if so, which are the critical cues provided by the female. Scientists are also examining whether the neurons are triggered by other stimuli, including the scent of a female, the scent of an aggressive male, and a non-social odor such as peppermint.

'"/>

Contact: Elizabeth Luciano
luciano@journ.umass.edu
413-545-2989
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
24-Oct-1999

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Neurons involved in drug addiction relapse identified
2. Say what? Neurons and fat cells have a dialogue in the lab
3. Simple Chemical Switch Steers Migrating Neurons
4. Neurons Control Brain Immunity: Neurotrophins As Regulators Of Antigen-Presentation In Microglial Cells
5. R-Type Channels - A New Type Of Calcium Channels Controlling Signal Transduction Between Neurons In The Brain
6. Transplanted Neurons Restore Function In Rats After Stroke
7. Scientists Use IGF-I To Grow New Membranes Around Neurons
8. Growth Factor Stimulation Leads To Increase In New Neurons In The Striatum And Cortex Of The Brain
9. Single Mechanism Seen To Underlie Group Of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mutant Proteins Form Insoluble Masses In The Nuclei Of Neurons
10. Brain Protein "Rescues" Neurons From Atrophy
11. Therapeutic cloning no longer a dream, says scientist who produced first cloned embryonic stem cell