Adult stem cells activated in mammalian brain

Adult stem cells originate in a different part of the brain than is commonly believed, and with proper stimulation they can produce new brain cells to replace those lost to disease or injury, a study by UC Irvine scientists says. The true stem cells in the mammalian brain, scientists found, are the ependymal cells lining the ventricles in the brain and spinal cord, rather than cells in the subventricular zone as previously believed. Discovering the cell source is crucial when developing stem cell-based therapies for neurological disorders and injuries such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke or traumatic brain injury. UCI scientists Darius Gleason (pictured), Peter Bryant and James Fallon led the study, published in the journal Neuroscience.