Thursday, July 3, 2008
Minimize Brain Injury With Spackle-Like Substance for Cells
Filed under: etc.
A new paper published in the Journal of Biological Engineering describes an experiment in which poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) was used to minimize traumatic brain injury in rats.
In the experiment weights were dropped on lab rats' heads (ouch) to cause the brain injury. Some of the rats were treated with PEG shortly after the injury (within 2-6 hours), or received a placebo treatment.
The scientists found that the rats that were given intravenous PEG within 4 hours after brain injury had a better recovery than the less fortunate rats. The material works by helping neurons "seal up" leaky membranes.
If further studies prove to be successful we could soon see PEG being carried in ambulances for immediate use in head trauma victims.
Read more in Nature here...
Image: jesusali
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