2007-02-21 08:43:23
So, I've always wondered why they say that women are less likely to feel MS symptoms while pregnant. One, I guess, can assume that with the harmonal and immune system changes to allow the baby to grow must be the ticket right? So why hasen't anyone bottled that up and given it to us MS'ers?! Seems like it's on its way to happening perhaps? Okay, at least in mice they are finding out it's all about Prolactin. And I'm also very happy to see that Dr. Jock Murray is commenting on this research! Good to see that name again! "Prolactin stimulates breast development and milk production and has been tested in humans for other reasons. "It's early to be confident that prolactin will definitely work with people," said Weiss. "But prolactin represents the first example of any molecule, in this case a naturally occurring molecule, that can actually boost the repair of myelin." The Calgary team compared pregnant and virgin female mice of the same age to count the number of myelin-producing cells. They found pregnant mice had:
- Twice as many of the cells.
- 50 per cent more myelin coating their nerve cells after giving birth.
- Twice as much new myelin after it was chemically destroyed.