Cell Turnover Rates: Find Organ/Tissue/Cell Rates

[stochastic]

I've heard that the human body completely renews all of its cells in seven years; the pancreas in 24 hours.

I've been trying to find a website that lists the turnover rates for each organ, tissue or type of cell. If anyone has a link or a book with that kind of information, let me know.

Thanks ^_^

 

[Andy Resnick]

I couldn't find any useful links. As you note, the replacement rate is highly variable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/science/03heart.html?_r=1&ref=health

But the 'seven years' also came up here, in an oddly related way:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_the_human_body_regenerate_every_7_years

 

[quicknote]

I can provide some insight into the concept of cell turnover rates and the information you are seeking. The idea that the human body completely renews all of its cells in seven years is a commonly cited statistic, but it is not entirely accurate. While some cells in the body may have a lifespan of approximately seven years, this is not true for all cells. The rate of cell turnover varies greatly depending on the type of cell, its location in the body, and other factors such as age and overall health.

For example, skin cells have a relatively short lifespan of about two to three weeks, while red blood cells only last for about four months. On the other hand, cells in the brain and heart can last for years or even decades. Additionally, some cells, such as stem cells, have the ability to continuously renew themselves.

As for the pancreas, while it is true that some cells in this organ have a rapid turnover rate of 24 hours, this is not the case for all cells in the pancreas. The beta cells, which produce insulin, have a longer lifespan of about 3-4 months. This is important to note because the turnover rate of cells in the pancreas can have significant implications for diseases such as diabetes.

I understand your interest in finding a comprehensive list of cell turnover rates for various organs, tissues, and cells. However, due to the complexity and variability of these rates, there is no single source that can provide this information. It is important to consider the specific factors and context of each cell type when discussing turnover rates.

If you are interested in learning more about cell turnover rates, I recommend consulting scientific literature and reputable sources such as textbooks and peer-reviewed articles. These sources can provide a more accurate and detailed understanding of the turnover rates for different cells in the body. I hope this helps clarify the concept of cell turnover rates and provides some guidance for further research.