Molecular forces win the degeneration of nerve

An amazing coincidence - almost at the same time, there are two independent studies that offer new and effective methods of "molecular wars" against the damaging nerve diseases. In the center of attention of specialists in both cases proved to be axons, which are usually the first victim of the disease.

Who found a molecule that plays a key role in the successful operation of axonal transport , movement through the nerve appendage of different biological material. It is essential to preserve the life of nerve cells, and even more so, professionals can now take a fresh look at the factors leading to such disorders of the nervous system, as, for example, multiple sclerosis.

We explain the characteristic feature of neurodegenerative diseases - the loss of viable neurons, which, as experience shows, often preceded by degeneration of axons. Their destruction was detected repeatedly in many disorders of this type, but until now the phenomenon itself has not been studied in detail.

Degenerated neurons after the injections made by the scientists began to grow and returned to normal. Axonal transport provides uninterrupted traffic of thousands of biochemical compounds essential for the survival of the axons themselves and the success of our one hundred billion nerve cells.