title: Studies on Aplysia neurons suggest treatments for chronic human disorders.
abstract: For decades, the marine snail Aplysia has proven to be a powerful system for analyzing basic neurobiological mechanisms, particularly cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural plasticity. Three new findings on Aplysia may be relevant for the understanding and treatment of chronic human disorders. This research on this simple molluscan nervous system may lead to new therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injury, Fragile X syndrome, and genetic learning deficits more generally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA. tabrams@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Abrams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy