The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 
 
 

Inducible ablation of astrocytes shows that these cells are required for neuronal survival in the adult brain.

To study the function of astrocytes in the adult brain, we have targeted the expression of E. coli nitroreductase (NTR) to the astrocytes of transgenic mice under the control of the GFAP promoter. The astrocytes expressing NTR were selectively ablated after administration of the prodrug CB1954, resulting in motor discoordination. Histological examination showed that the region most affected in the brain was the cerebellum, in which the Bergmann glia were eliminated and the granular neurons had degenerated. Specific effects were also noted on the dendrites of the Purkinje cells, and the junction between these neurons and granular layer was disrupted. Astrocyte ablation was associated with a dramatic decrease in the expression of glutamate transporters, which may account for the degeneration of granular neurons since the excitotoxic effects of glutamate result in a similar phenotype. These results provide the first evidence that astrocytes are important for the survival of neurons in the adult brain in vivo.[1]

References

  1. Inducible ablation of astrocytes shows that these cells are required for neuronal survival in the adult brain. Cui, W., Allen, N.D., Skynner, M., Gusterson, B., Clark, A.J. Glia (2001) [Pubmed]
 
WikiGenes - Universities