Taking neural crest stem cells to new heights.
The carotid body is an organ of the peripheral nervous system that senses oxygen concentration in the blood and responds to changes by regulating breathing. Pardal et al. (2007) now report the discovery of carotid body stem cells, which proliferate in response to hypoxia and generate neurons that secrete dopamine. This new source of adult stem cells may be useful in therapies for treating Parkinson's disease.
Kokovay
Erzsebet
E
New York Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12114, USA.
Temple
Sally
S
D000818:Animals; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*