MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne have identified and isolated adult stem cells from the brains of mice, which can develop into new nerve cells. Perry Bartlett, et al., in a study published in the August 16, 2001 edition of the Nature journal proved that a single stem cell could give rise to thousands of new neurons or muscle cells.
The researchers transplanted the cells back into the brains of mice and found they developed into both nerve cells and support cells. Dr. Bartlett told The Age that the findings were exciting because they potentially provided a solution to the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cell research. The study is said to provide the first precise identification and isolation of the adult neural stem cells.
The Nature journal: https://www.nature.com