American scientists made eyes taken from deceased people react to the light again. According to the researchers, research findings question the claim that brain death, as it is currently defined, is truly irreversible.
- The experiment undertaken by researchers in Utah was conducted on eyes obtained from an organ donor within five hours of his death
- The reaction of the deceased’s eyes to the light was possible thanks to their oxygenation
- Scientists hope their discovery will lead to improved therapies to improve vision and treatment of eye diseases
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
“We were able to awaken photoreceptor cells in the human macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision, the ability to see details and colors” — says lead author of the study, Dr. Fatima Abbas of the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, quoted by Science Daily. “In eyes obtained up to five hours after the death of an organ donor, these cells responded to bright light, colored lights, and even very faint flashes.” — he adds.
They restored communication between neurons
In 2019, scientists from Yale University published the results of a study in which they managed to ignite life in the brains of dead pigs. The scientists then managed to turn on the blood circulation in the organs four hours after the pigs were slaughtered. Researchers in Utah achieved something more: they restored communication between neurons.
Initially, a research team in Utah was able to revive light-sensing neurons (photoreceptors) in the eye, but the cells did not communicate with other cells in the retina — the part of the eye that receives visual stimuli. They found that the lack of oxygen was to blame. Dr. Frans Vinberg found a way to restore oxygenation to the eyes of an organ donor. “We were able to make the cells of the retina communicate with each other, just like in the living eye” — says Dr. Vinberg.
The rest of the article is available under the video.
Prof. Anne Hanneken of the US Scripps Research said: “Until now, it has not been possible to get cells in different layers of the retina to communicate with each other the way they normally do in the living retina.”
Scientists hope to use these findings in the future to develop therapies to improve vision and treatment eye diseases.
Brain death. Is it irreversible?
Scientists also addressed the issue of brain death, which occurs when someone is no longer able to survive without artificial life support and is unable to breathe independently. It is a condition considered to be irreversible and therefore the person is presumed dead. Research by scientists from the University of Utah may open up new avenues for studying this topic, as well as other tissues in the central nervous system, such as the brain and spine.
One of the most common causes of vision loss is retinal degeneration. Therefore, it is worth examining your eyes for this condition in advance to increase the chances of treatment. You can download the material for the study yourself thanks to the shipment test analyzing the Y402H mutation in the CFH gene. You will find it in Medonet Market.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to epigenetics. What is? How can we influence our genes? Do our elderly grandparents give us a chance for a long and healthy life? What is trauma inheritance and is it possible to somehow oppose this phenomenon? Listen: