Posted by SLS on July 26, 2013, at 11:45:24
In reply to Re: Is neurogenesis a myth?, posted by linkadge on July 26, 2013, at 10:28:08
> Feeding mice blueberries (in one study) resulted in enhanced neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Pasco Rakic's contention has been that the results from rodent neurogenesis studies cannot be extrapolated to primates. He has presented the results of his studies that he feels confirms this. According to him, neurogenesis in the hippocampus ceases within the first year postnatally.
> Now, perhaps the neurogenesis was misinterpreted.
That's probably the best explanation. Perhaps the sprouting of neurites into new dendrites and terminals looks like new neurons if one assumes that increased tissue volume equals neurogenesis.
> However, the mice fed the blueberries still navigated mazes significantly better than the mice not fed the blueberries.
What's in blueberries?
> Similar studies occur with mice fed epicatechin. So, there would need to be another mechanism for the enhanced learning.
I'm not familiar with these things.
> Also, the exercise induced enhancement of cognitive function was presumed to be mediated in part by neurogenesis in the hippocampus.Maybe it's hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia.
> Hmmm. I'd wonder how other researchers would respond.
Yes. This guy is rather alone as a dissenter.
> As a side note, I have a friend with M.S. who overseas for stem cell therapy. The improvement was night and day (he can speak and walk v.s. not so before). So again, I wonder what the mechanisms of this would be? I.e. if injected stem cells can lead to new brain cells.Yes. A stem cell is the default progenitor from which specialized cells are formed through the process of differentiation. The same stem cell can become a heart muscle, a neuron, a skin cell, red blood cell, etc., depending upon the signaling in the environment.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1047807
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130706/msgs/1047829.html