A protein found in the brains of mice is present at higher levels in females, which offers them stronger protection against one type of injury.
animal research
Pluripotent stem cells offer blood ready for preclinical trials
When the body has a low blood cell count, it can have trouble fighting off infection. But transfusible blood products may be in the not-so-distant future.
Study illuminates war between the sexes: fruit fly edition
New research from the Laboratory of Genetics pinpoints the effect on reproduction of a female’s ability to masquerade as a male.
Urban Canid Project helps track Madison’s coyotes and prevent conflicts
Since 2014, the Urban Canid Project has heavily emphasized outreach and public engagement in the study of Madison’s foxes and coyotes. So far, its efforts have met success.
When brain metabolism dips, desire goes up in monkeys on ‘female Viagra’
As “the female Viagra” comes to market, researchers are learning more about how the drug affects the brain.
When brain metabolism dips, desire goes up in monkeys on ‘female Viagra’
As “the female Viagra” comes to market, researchers are learning more about how the drug affects the brain.
Antibody targets key cancer marker; opens door to better diagnosis, therapy
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have created a molecular structure that attaches to a molecule on highly aggressive brain cancer and causes tumors to light up in a scanning machine. In mouse models of human brain cancer, their tag is easily seen in a PET scanner, which is commonly used to detect cancer.
UW neuroscientists describe brain chemicals that create PTSD response
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientists shows how stress chemicals reshape the brains of rodents, research that could lead to better treatments for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Drug protects fertility and may prolong life in chemo-treated mice
A University of Wisconsin-Madison physician and her research team have shown that a heart medication can prevent ovarian damage and improve survival in adolescent mice after chemotherapy. The treatment also increased the number of their healthy offspring.
Model brain tissues could replace animal tests
UW–Madison stem cell scientists and biomedical engineers can grow three-dimensional models of brain tissue that could replace animals in screening studies that test the toxicity of chemicals such as new drugs, according to a study published this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers were able to coax stem cells into differentiating into several different types of brain cells and begin to organize themselves into a structure that resembles a developing human brain. Employing rats and mice in toxicity screening tests protects humans from unknown dangers that may be caused by new drugs and chemicals used in commerce, but tissue grown from stem cells could make broader, faster testing work without employing animals. Read more from the Morgridge Institute for Research: Stem cells help predict neural toxicity … and at Scientific American: “Brain in a Dish” Could Replace Toxic Animal Tests