University of Adelaide researchers have grown brain-resembling cells from stem cells taken from teeth, potentially impacting stroke therapies.

According to Kylie Ellis, lead author of the study, “What we developed wasn’t identical to normal neurons, but the new cells shared very similar properties to neurons. They also formed complex networks and communicated through simple electrical activity, like you might see between cells in the developing brain.”

The stem cells expressed neuronal cytoplasmic proteins, neurotransmitter-specific markers, and functional voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels, but not spontaneous action potentials.