Conversation Starters

Neurons communicate with chemicals – bursts of neurotransmitters which pass signals from one cell to the next. While the brain’s millions of neurons may look a little chaotic, their chemical chatter is in a fine balance that changes with age and disease. Normally, dopaminergic neurons squirt a neurotransmitter called dopamine into different brain areas, influencing processes such as movement, reward and motivation. Here researchers grow human dopaminergic neurons (highlighted in orange) from stem cells in a dish. With so many important roles in the brain, they investigate how the cells deteriorate in Parkinson’s Disease – specifically, how a toxic chemical called alpha-synuclein (which builds up in Parkinson’s) affects the cultured cells. The next step is to see if new drugs can slow down or stop alpha-synuclein, staving off symptoms.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Winning image by Nick Gatford of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
• Image category of the University of Oxford's Department of Biochemistry Centenary Scientific Imaging Competition
• Image copyright held by Nick Gatford
• Research published in Nature Communications, June 2021