For the study of prion neurotoxicity, we used neural-grafting techniques: mice devoid of the normal host prion protein (Prnp% mice) received a neural graft and were intracerebrally infected with mouse prions. The growth and differentiation properties of neural grafts were defined. Growth of embryonic neuroectodermal tissue was optimal at gestational days 12.5-13.5. The blood-brain barrier is re...

Transplantation of neural progenitor cells (NPC) is a promising therapeutic strategy for replacing neurons lost after spinal cord injury, but significant challenges remain regarding neuronal integration and functional connectivity. Here we tested the ability of graft-derived neurons to reestablish connectivity by forming neuronal relays between injured dorsal column (DC) sensory axons and the d...

This paper presents the application of the adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to a model of the flow field inside an in vitro arteriovenous (AV) graft-to-vein connection implanted to the kidney patients. A model based on ANFIS is proposed. Its relevant steps oriented to find the optimal AV graft angle are given. The advantage of this neuro-fuzzy hybrid approach is that it does not re...

A detailed fate map was obtained for the early chick neural plate (stages 3d/4). Numerous overlapping plug grafts were performed upon New-cultured chick embryos, using fixable carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester to label donor chick tissue. The specimens were harvested 24 hours after grafting and reached in most cases stages 9-11 (early neural tube). The label was detected immunocyt...

Graft-induced dyskinesias are a serious complication after neural transplantation in Parkinson's disease. One patient with Parkinson's disease, treated with fetal grafts 14 years ago and deep brain stimulation 6 years ago, showed marked improvement of motor symptoms but continued to suffer from OFF-medication graft-induced dyskinesias. The patient received a series of clinical and imaging asses...

UNLABELLED : As clinical application of neural stem cell (NSC) grafting into the brain would also encompass aged people, critical evaluation of engraftment of NSC graft-derived cells in the aged hippocampus has significance. We examined the engraftment and differentiation of alkaline phosphatase-positive NSCs expanded from the postnatal subventricular zone (SVZ), 3 months after grafting into th...

Embryonic blood vessels form in a reproducible pattern that interfaces with other embryonic structures and tissues, but the sources and identities of signals that pattern vessels are not well characterized. We hypothesized that the neural tube provides vascular patterning signal(s) that direct formation of the perineural vascular plexus (PNVP) that encompasses the neural tube at mid-gestation. ...

The amniote organizer (Hensen's node) can induce a complete nervous system when grafted into a peripheral region of a host embryo. Although BMP inhibition has been implicated in neural induction, non-neural cells cannot respond to BMP antagonists unless previously exposed to a node graft for at least 5 hours before BMP inhibitors. To define signals and responses during the first 5 hours of node...

IMPORTANCE Free muscle transfer innervated by a cross-facial nerve graft represents the criterion standard for smile reconstruction in facial paralysis. If primary reconstruction fails, a second muscle transfer is usually needed. Herein, we investigated the possibility of avoiding a second free muscle transfer by in situ coaptation of the gracilis muscle to the masseteric nerve. OBSERVATIONS ...