In a significant finding the scientists have inverted the early symptoms of mad cow disease in mice. A team of scientists from Medical Research Council led by Dr.Giovanna Mallucci were able to outline the role of drugs in the treatment of this deadly disease.
This team was able to divest the mice from the pattern of memory and activities linked with mad cow disease. This was accomplished by removing the specific gene that was responsible for the production of prion proteins.Prion proteins in the brain are responsible for these disorders which alter the shape of the brain causing a lot of holes resembling a sponge. This results in the deterioration of the brain.
The mice subjected to these procedures revealed a good recovery to normal behaviour. The spongy nature of the brain was also reverted and normal memory restored. The fact that these mice were very young in age contributed to the revival.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) which is commonly called as the cattle disease or mad cow disease is a neurodegenerative disorder has its equivalent in humans called the variant Creutzfeldt JaKob disease (vCJD). According to Dr.Mallucci an early detection about the disease is very important.
Source-Medindia
JYT
