Damaged Mice Spines Improved with iPS Cells
A team of researchers at Keio University has succeeded in improving spinal cord damage in mice by transplanting into them neural stem cells produced with human induced pluripotent stem cells.

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Study Suggests Possible Treatment for Neurological Disorder Rett Syndrome
Using injections of a small derivate of the protein insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), scientists at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have successfully treated a mouse model of the devastating neurological disorder Rett syndrome.

New Insights into Growth Factor's Role in Brain Development
New research sheds light on a neural growth factor called proBDNF, finding that it is present and potentially active during the perinatal period when the brain's circuitry and memory-encoding regions are being refined.

Diverse 'Connectomes' Hint at Genes' Limits in the Nervous System
Genetics may play a surprisingly small role in determining the precise wiring of the mammalian nervous system, according to painstaking mapping of every neuron projecting to a small muscle mice use to move their ears.

VIDEO: Super-Resolution Microscopy Takes on a Third Dimension
The shapes of some of the tiniest cellular structures are coming into sharper focus from a new imaging technology that produces the best three-dimensional resolution ever seen with an optical microscope.

ABSTRACTS

Oct4-Induced Pluripotency in Adult Neural Stem Cells
In this report, the researchers show that only exogenous expression of the germline-specific transcription factor Oct4 is sufficient to generate pluripotent stem cells from adult mouse NSCs.

Loss of Na+ Channel Beta2 Subunits is Neuroprotective in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
The research presented hypothesizes that Na+ channel beta2 subunits (encoded by Scn2b) are involved in MS/EAE pathogenesis, as beta2 is responsible for regulating levels of channel cell surface expression in neurons.

SDF-1 Stimulates Neurite Growth on Inhibitory CNS Myelin
In this study it was reported that treatment with SDF-1alpha is sufficient to overcome neurite outgrowth inhibition mediated by CNS myelin towards cultured postnatal dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Axon Regeneration Requires a Conserved MAP Kinase Pathway
The research in this study shows that the DLK-1 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is essential for regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans motor neurons.

Generation of Functional Neural Artificial Tissue from Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
The main purpose of this study was to generate human umbilical cord blood-derived neural artificial tissue and investigate their functional properties.

Neural Stem Cell- and Schwann Cell-Loaded Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds Support Axonal Regeneration in the Transected Spinal Cord
This study examines the compatibility of neural stem cells and Schwann cells with the poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid polymer scaffold and quantitatively assesses their potential to promote regeneration after a spinal cord transection injury in rats.

Elongator Controls the Migration and Differentiation of Cortical Neurons through Acetylation of Alpha-Tubulin
This paper explores the multisubunit histone acetyltransferase Elongator complex, which contributes to transcript elongation, and also regulates the maturation of projection neurons.

Pluristem Receives Deficiency and Compliance Notice from NASDAQ
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that on February 5, 2009, it had received a NASDAQ Staff Notification of Deficiency and Compliance Letter indicating that the Company had violated the shareholder approval rules under NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350(i)(1)(D)(ii).

Hwang-Style Stem Cell Proposal Gets Thumbs Down
The National Consultative Ethics Committee for Life recently decided not to approve an application by a research team from the College of Medicine at Pochon Cha University for embryonic research.

Sebelius Near Top for Health Post
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was near the top of President Barack Obama's list of candidates to head the Health and Human Services Department, a senior administration official said Saturday.

Stem Cell Critics Sue Over Missouri Ballot Measure
Critics of embryonic stem cell research have accused three top Missouri officials of conspiring to prepare an unfair ballot summary for a proposal to bar use of public funds for abortion and human cloning.