“By realizing that differentiated neurons are critical operators in this process we finally lay our hands on an “on switch” which we can use to produce a molecular landing strip for migrating neuroblasts to home in at areas of critical need” says Alán Alpár, senior author of the study.
Tibor Harkany, Professor of Molecular Neurosciences at the Medical University of Vienna goes one step further “We mapped the entire molecular machinery used by differentiated neurons to make way for their migrating adult-born replacements. This clearly offers a pharmacological concept to reroute neurons in sufficient quantities for neurorepair once damage occurs. Even though distances can be considerably long, we are confident that molecular means exist to tackle these challenges.”
Again, not ready for human use yet, but good news for eventual treatment of all kinds of brain damage.