Amid opposition from religious groups and a lack of firm support from the government, UW-Madison scientists formed spinal motor neurons from human embryonic stem cells.
Stem-cell research of motor neurons is particularly important for scientists working with problems of the nervous system; motor neurons relay messages from the brain to all other parts of the body, as well as control almost every type of movement. New developments involving motor neurons could eventually provide options for treating spinal-cord injuries or conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
In a UW-Madison press release, Su-Chan Zhang, study leader and UW-Madison assistant professor of anatomy and neurology at the Waisman Center, said scientists have had trouble creating motor neurons for years, even in more basic mammals such as mice.
\We cannot simply translate studies from animal to humans,"" he said. ""You need to teach the [embryonic stem cells] to change step by step ... Otherwise, it just won't work.""
Terry Devitt, UW-Madison director of research communications, said the advances are vital for laying the groundwork of stem-cell research.
""It helps get at some of the basic issues that need to be resolved before this technology can move to a clinic, so it's important in terms of the technology,"" he said.
Xue Jun Li, assistant scientist on the project and UW-Madison graduate student, said the key to developing the motor neurons was exposing the stem cells to a complex mixture of chemicals at the exact moment of time-in the third and fourth weeks of development-to turn the cells into the elusive neurons.
""What we found was we needed to give [the stem cells] a cocktail combination of chemicals and this should be used in a specific window of time,"" she said. ""If you miss this window you probably will not make the cells. This [research] can possibly be used to form other types of cells.""
According to Li, the next step is to transplant the cells into chicken embryos and watch their development.
""It can be used as a model to test the drugs which are related to multiple neurological diseases,"" she said. ""Further down, we need to look at the maturation of these types of cells and see how they either mature or integrate in natural living cells.""
In a move to promote biotechnology and stem cell research, Gov. Jim Doyle proposed a $750 million investment for research in November. Doyle will host a visit today from Michael J. Fox, a well-publicized sufferer of Parkinson's disease and advocate of embryonic stem-cell research, where the two will tour the Waisman Center and its science labs.
