The gene expression profiles of motor neurons — the specialized nerve cells that control movement and are lost in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — vary among men and women, with substantial differences found between the sexes in a new study done using induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. “The…
A detailed analysis of the communication network between nerve and muscle cells in turtles has shed new light on how movement is controlled and maintained. These findings on how motor nerve cells communicate may help scientists better understand the underlying mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal injury.
Nerve cells that control movement change their size as ALS progresses, becoming larger than normal at first but then ending up much smaller, a mouse study showed. An important finding was that the changes can prevent nerve cells from facilitating communication between the brain and muscles. The research provided scientists with…
