Annals of Neurosciences, Vol 16, No 1 (2009)
Annals of Neurosciences, Volume 16, Issue 1 (January), 2009
Notes of a biology watcher
This issue of the Annals of Neurosciences marks a turning point in its coverage in many notable directions. This is the first issue to be edited by Dr. Akshay Anand of Department of Neurology from premier Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, an assignment he undertook with the enthusiasm and dedication required from when the goal of a new editor in chief is to change fundamental elements of communication that a specific scientific journal provides. Dr Anand discussed his invitation with me at length and in detail and I encouraged him to not only accept this challenge but to do so eagerly and with pre-determined goals. These we discussed at some length, as he formulated the basic outline that the Journal shall assume in its quest to represent an innovative forum of communication of the etiology and therapy of diseases of the brain and retina, while trying to learn just how the brain functions.
The Annals of Neurosciences will not be content to stop there. Indeed, the Journal intends to take a new look at unanswered questions of neuroscience that have been once explored and now ignored. In this endeavor, the Journal could re-print copies of classic papers that once shaped the field, comment upon them and ask what we have learned since. Annals of Neurosciences can further communicate the state of the art of the field today, focusing on neural stem cells and their potential, as well as new techniques to assess neural function. These techniques, including functional MRI and advanced imaging may allow us to gain a better understanding of the role of stem cells in neural repair and hence the possible facilitation of neural repair by administration of endogenous stem cells. The stem cells that effect regeneration of neurons and connections of the central nervous system have only recently been identified. In the adult brain, their numbers are limited1. Many believe that expanding these cells in culture may overcome this problem. Others believe that cultured expansion leads to compromised ability of stem cells to regenerate tissues and organ systems and feel this approach while attractive is shortsighted.
While reasonable estimates and guesses have been made, the phenotype of a neural stem cell that can reverse the devastating effects of a brain injury, ischemia or disease remains unknown. The participation of the few cells that possess characteristics of stem cells in certain areas of the brain is of no known significance in maintenance of function of the brain after birth. No one knows if stem cells play any role at all in the stunning recovery some patients experience after stroke or trauma. And no one knows if stem cells supplied exogenously by intravascular, intra-articular or local infusion can reverse or abate the damage sustained when neurons are disrupted and their function compromised when the barrier that separates the blood from the action cells of the brain is disrupted. The ability of the peripheral neurons to “regenerate” as they extend from an intact cell body axonal pseudopods that connect to target tissue and retain functional integrity engenders hope that similar responses in the central nervous system may reverse the devastation wrought by injury to the brain. Indeed the Journal --under the auspices of Dr Akshay Anand--- shall explore these issues and shall do so in a manner that will encourage innovative approaches to this highly publicized problem.
The Annals of Neurosciences, Dr. Anand tell me, however, shall not merely be a neural stem cell journal. The Journal shall entertain all aspects of neuroscience. In particular. Annals of Neurosciences shall communicate the work of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences. In doing so, the Journal should endeavor to supplement these reports with invited comprehensive reviews of items of particular interest and techniques of promise. This journal could focus on the resurrection of specific investigations into questions long ago abandoned, as their answers were thought to be impossible to reach. With new techniques, many of the basic questions of the past investigators who pondered pondering, thought about thinking and dreamt of the basis of dreams can be addressed. Many of these issues can now be re-evaluated ---if only in comment. For this purpose, one section of Journal could reprint classic works of the past and another section such as Issues In Neurosciences---- shall afford a platform for all to discuss these works and issues of modern research, including stem cell therapy. The journal can initiate its trek into unanswered questions of past investigators by reprinting portions of the classic work of Carl S. Lashley who searched for the “engram” from 1920 till 19502, never finding the elusive link thought to convert short term memory to ones stable, came up with a number of brilliant alternate hypotheses. These were presented right around the time that JT Bonner and colleagues were trying to convince the world that memories could be transferred by RNA extracts, a subject that immunologists endorsed a few years later. Immune memory now seems not to be transferred by RNA; no engram has yet been found and it is unclear if the primitive animals Bonner used in his experiments of memory transfer experiments, widely reported in the journal Science and other high profile journals of the time, could even possess a memory, or be taught to respond. But then arose the lowly Prion.
Does the engram thus not exist? Absence of evidence proves nothing; short term memories are converted to long term, stable memories that are not easily lost, but can be. Does the engram that Dr Lashley never found explain the conversion of short to long term memory and the etiology of amnesia vs. retrograde amnesia? Dr Anand has picked this subject as an example of one that fits the goals he sees for the revitalized Journal. Later issues could discuss dreams, thought, policies and the unique ability of the human to contemplate its own existence. Ah ha ...“I think, therefore I am”, uttered Rene Descartes over 300 years ago atop a clear mountain of the pristine earth. His colleagues-- astounded by the beautiful simplicity of his answer to a question that encompassed their minds for years-- were immediately relieved and Rene’s answer which held for quite a long time. At least until 1966, when Justin Hayworth of a group of psychologists from Birmingham, England, a group referred to as the “The Moody Blues” added a few words to Dr. Descartes conclusion......
“I think, therefore I am, I think”.
Finally rendering Rene’s declaration accurate..... probably.
Annals of Neuroscience has a necessary and challenging task ahead and I think that Dr Anand and his selected team shall meet the demands of that task in a manner that promises to change fundamental concepts of communication in science. I know he shall give it all effort he has to give and I am confident that his efforts shall be rewarded by innovative thought, ideas and conclusions where we try -- with much futility -- to understand the nature of the thing that defines our actions, even those actions we take to understand this object we have come to refer to as a brain.
doi:10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2009.160103
Denis English, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurosurgery
University of South Florida College of Medicine, TAMPA FL 33604
Founding Editor, Stem Cells and Development
President
Florida Foundation for Development Research
E-mail: dkenglsih@msn.com
References
1. Akshay Anand, Stephan Gluck and Denis English. Neural Stem Cells. In Stem Cell Biology; An update. Edited by HS Cheung. 2009 (IN Press)
2. Dewsbury, Donald A, Journal of the history of the behavioral sciences. (2002) 38 (3): 225-45.
3. Saxena G, Singh M, Meena P, et al Neuroprotective Effects of Asparagus Racemosus Linn Root Extract: An Experimental and Clinical Evidence. Annals of Neurosciences 2007; 14(3): 57-63.
4. Anand A. Editorial. Annals of Neurosciences 2009;16(1):1.
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