Artificial brain cell to fight disease.AN ARTIFICIAL brain cell that could be used to treat diseases such as Parkinson's has been created by scientists. The "delivery electrode electrode, terminal through which electric current passes between metallic and nonmetallic parts of an electric circuit. In most familiar circuits current is carried by metallic conductors, but in some circuits the current passes for some distance through a " works in the same way as nerve cells in the brain by releasing neurotransmitters. Nerves transmit electrical messages but communicate with each other via neurotransmitters, chemicals that activate neighbouring cells. Parkinson's, for instance, is caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter neurotransmitter, chemical that transmits information across the junction (synapse) that separates one nerve cell (neuron) from another nerve cell or a muscle. Neurotransmitters are stored in the nerve cell's bulbous end (axon). dopamine dopamine (dōp`əmēn), one of the intermediate substances in the biosynthesis of epinephrine and norepinephrine. See catecholamine. dopamine One of the catecholamines, widely distributed in the central nervous system. - or the cellular receptors that respond to it. The artificial cell is made from an electricity-conducting plastic and can deliver different kinds of neurotransmitter. Only cells sensitive to a specific neurotransmitter are activated. In contrast, current methods of stimulating nerve cells electrically are liable to activate all cells in the target area, causing undesired effects. |
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