Fetal Neural Transplantation in the Treatment of Parkinsons and Huntin

Two Diseases, One Hope: Fetal Neural Transplantation in the Treatment of Parkinson's and Huntington's Disease Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Huntington's Disease (HD) are neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by malfunctions within the motor sector of the nervous system. These malfunctions, which are caused either by the surplus (as in HD) or absence (as in PD) of hormones, are a direct result of neural cell deterioration within the brain. PD and HD illustrate two very different behavioral patterns that are subsequently caused by two opposite and extreme biological abnormalities. Yet the common thread between the two conditions is that there are major mechanical predicaments arising between cellular connections within the brain. Thus, it is the occurrence of cell death that functions as a key link between these two very different diseases. And it is because of this commonality, that the most controversial experimental treatment for PD and HD, fetal transplant surgery, functions as a possible cure for both these diseases. (18). The cause of neurodegenerative diseases, like PD and HD, is ba sically a story of how abnormal chemical interactions result in motor problems. Generally speaking, the brain is the body's communication headquarters. It obtains a myriad of information from various parts of the sensory system and processes this information in an organized fashion. It then relays sensory input to different parts of the motor system. Such messages from the brain dictate specific muscular and behavioral patterns. (18). Moreover, there are two particular areas of the brain that are specifically related to motor malfunctions: the substania nigra and the striatum (the caudate nucleus and the putamen). The cells of the nigr... ...-lab.htm 11. Neural Transplantation for Huntington's Disease http://neuro-ww2.mgh.harvard.edu/hdsa/newresearch.nclk 12. Neurosurgical Horizons in the Treatment of Huntington's Disease http://www.lib.uchicago.edu//~rd13/hd/horizons.html 13. NeurotransplantationUs Latest Stab at Incurable Brain Disease http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~rd13/hd/neuro.html 14. New Treatment Strategies http://www.bcm.edu/neurol/struct/hunting/huntp8.html 15. The Striatal Project http://www.brc.cam.ac.uk/people/sbd/strgraft.htm 16. What is Parkinson's? http://neuro-chief-e.mgh.harvard.edu/parkinsonsweb/Main/IntroPD/Intro.html 17. Young Parkinson's Handbook http://neuro-chief-e.mgh.harvard.edu/parkinsonsweb/Main/YOPD_Handbook/CHAPTER_8.%20html Book: 18. Delcomyn, Fred. 1998. Foundations of Neurobiology. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, pg. 436-437 Fetal Neural Transplantation in the Treatment of Parkinson's and Huntin Two Diseases, One Hope: Fetal Neural Transplantation in the Treatment of Parkinson's and Huntington's Disease Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Huntington's Disease (HD) are neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by malfunctions within the motor sector of the nervous system. These malfunctions, which are caused either by the surplus (as in HD) or absence (as in PD) of hormones, are a direct result of neural cell deterioration within the brain. PD and HD illustrate two very different behavioral patterns that are subsequently caused by two opposite and extreme biological abnormalities. Yet the common thread between the two conditions is that there are major mechanical predicaments arising between cellular connections within the brain. Thus, it is the occurrence of cell death that functions as a key link between these two very different diseases. And it is because of this commonality, that the most controversial experimental treatment for PD and HD, fetal transplant surgery, functions as a possible cure for both these diseases. (18). The cause of neurodegenerative diseases, like PD and HD, is ba sically a story of how abnormal chemical interactions result in motor problems. Generally speaking, the brain is the body's communication headquarters. It obtains a myriad of information from various parts of the sensory system and processes this information in an organized fashion. It then relays sensory input to different parts of the motor system. Such messages from the brain dictate specific muscular and behavioral patterns. (18). Moreover, there are two particular areas of the brain that are specifically related to motor malfunctions: the substania nigra and the striatum (the caudate nucleus and the putamen). The cells of the nigr... ...-lab.htm 11. Neural Transplantation for Huntington's Disease http://neuro-ww2.mgh.harvard.edu/hdsa/newresearch.nclk 12. Neurosurgical Horizons in the Treatment of Huntington's Disease http://www.lib.uchicago.edu//~rd13/hd/horizons.html 13. NeurotransplantationUs Latest Stab at Incurable Brain Disease http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~rd13/hd/neuro.html 14. New Treatment Strategies http://www.bcm.edu/neurol/struct/hunting/huntp8.html 15. The Striatal Project http://www.brc.cam.ac.uk/people/sbd/strgraft.htm 16. What is Parkinson's? http://neuro-chief-e.mgh.harvard.edu/parkinsonsweb/Main/IntroPD/Intro.html 17. Young Parkinson's Handbook http://neuro-chief-e.mgh.harvard.edu/parkinsonsweb/Main/YOPD_Handbook/CHAPTER_8.%20html Book: 18. Delcomyn, Fred. 1998. Foundations of Neurobiology. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, pg. 436-437