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Written By: Agencies | Published : September 24, 2014 3:41 PM IST
We all know that the brain is made up of cells called neurons that transmit signals in the brain and throughout the body. But according to researchers, neurons are not the only type of brain cells you may have. Live Science reported a breakthrough discovery by researchers at Heidelberg University and the Bernstein Center Heidelberg-Mannheim, who claim to have discovered a new type of brain cell in mouse brain.
Normal brain cells called neurons vary in shape and size but have a basic structure that consists of a cell body and appendages called dendrites and axons. Dendrites are branches receiving signals from other neurons and deliver them to the cell body. The neuron then processes the signals and zaps along information to the next cell via a long projection called the axon.
The new brain cells, according to the researchers transmit signals by bypassing the cell body altogether. They seem to have a different, and until now, unknown process to transmit signals. In these cells, the signals skip the cell body altogether. Instead of sending signals through the cell body the signal travels along the axons that project directly from one of the dendrites.
According to study researcher Christian Thome, neuroscientist at the University, the team found that in more than half of these newly discovered cells, the axon doesn't emerge from the cell body. It instead arises from a lower dendrite.
The new cells were discovered in a region called hippocampus in brain of mice that has extensively branched cells called pyramidal cells. Humans, too, have a similar brain structure and hippocampus structure as that of mice.
To map signal transmission between these cells, researchers used a fluorescent red protein that stuck to the origin of each axon protruding from a cell. They expected the axons to extend from the cell bodies. Instead, they saw that in many cases, the axons emerged from the branching dendrites instead.
With inputs from PTI
Image source: Getty images
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