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Article: New Parkinson's surgery. (adrenal gland cells transplanted into brain of Parkinson's disease patient)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- April 18, 1987
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1987 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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New Parkinson's surgery
For the first time in the United States,adrenal gland cells have been transplanted into the brain of a Parkinson's disease patient. Surgeons performed the procedure last week in Nashville, Tenn., in hopes of alleviating symptoms of the neurological disease.
Parkinson's disease apparently iscaused by the loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine, important in transmitting signals from one nerve cell to another. Dopamine deficiency leads to loss of motor control. Because adrenal glands, which lie near the kidneys, produce dopamine-like hormones, researchers think that transfer of adrenal gland cells to the brain ...