A major discovery was made in rats, by scientists, after they implanted human stem cells in their brains. The experiment was carried out by researchers from the University of Stanford to UNITED STATES and published in the journal Nature. Human cells are extracts of neurons cultured in vitro and implanted in the brains of newborn rats. However, the latter have developed new behaviors because of the evolution of human cells in their brains. Indeed, neurons have developed their axons to the point of influencing the behavior of rats.
In order to provide a favorable environment for brain organoids
According Sergiu Pascaprofessor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences who conducted this work: “It is not known whether the maturation of organoids is limited by the absence of microenvironment and sensory stimuli that exist in vivo. Moreover, since they are not embedded in circuits that can generate behavioral outputs, their usefulness in modeling genetically complex neuropsychiatric diseases is currently limited.. It should be noted that the purpose of such experiments is to provide a framework favorable to cerebral organoids.
This, in order to explain the development of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Charcot’s disease, Parkinson or Alzheimer. As a reminder, this experiment comes after another during which scientists managed to teach laboratory rats how to drive to get a reward such as food. During this experience published in the journal Behavioural Brain Researchscientists had taught animals how to use a small electric car made from food boxes, adapted to their size to go for food.