Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
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Many of us who conduct research based on disorders that uniquely affect the human nervous system are involved directly or indirectly with brain banks. Brain banking is by its very nature a multi-disciplinary endeavor that requires close collaboration with our colleagues in clinical departments and also with the families and patients who are donors of brain tissue. These brain tissues will ultimately be used for many types of basic science investigations. ⋯ This paper represents a broad overview of brain banking and the issues that are common to all brain banks. Legal and ethical concerns regarding confidentiality of donor records and donor recruitment procedures, as well as safety precautions for technical staff, tissue banking methods and disbursement will be discussed. Finally, issues surrounding financial support for brain banks will be considered.
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J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. · Jul 2003
Comparative StudyProinsulin C-peptide replacement in type 1 diabetic BB/Wor-rats prevents deficits in nerve fiber regeneration.
We recently reported that early gene responses and expression of cytoskeletal proteins are perturbed in regenerating nerve in type 1 insulinopenic diabetes but not in type 2 hyperinsulinemic diabetes. We hypothesized that these differences were due to impaired insulin action in the former type of diabetes. To test this hypothesis, type 1 diabetic BB/Wor-rats were replaced with proinsulin C-peptide, which enhances insulin signaling without lowering blood glucose. ⋯ These effects translated into normalization of axonal radial growth and significantly improved axonal elongation of regenerating fibers in C-peptide-replaced BB/Wor-rats. The findings in C-peptide replaced type 1 diabetic rats were similar to those previously reported in hyperinsulinemic and iso-hyperglycemic type 2 BB/Z-rats. We conclude that impaired insulin action may be more important than hyperglycemia in suppressing nerve fiber regeneration in type 1 diabetic neuropathy.