Researchers at Penn State find a rare, stress-sensitive neuron appears to help regulate blood flow in the brain of mice.
Researchers at Penn State find a rare, stress-sensitive neuron appears to help regulate blood flow in the brain of mice.
While the exact causes of neurodegenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia are still largely unknown, researchers have been able to identify a key characteristic in affected brains: reduced blood flow. Building upon this foundational understanding, a team at Penn State recently found that a rare neuron that is extremely vulnerable to anxiety-induced stress appears to be responsible for regulating blood flow and coordinating neural activity in mice.
The researchers found that eliminating type-one nNOS neurons — which make up less than 1% of the brain’s 80 billion neurons and die off when exposed to too much stress — resulted in a drop in both blood flow and electrical activity in mice brains, demonstrating the impact this neuron type has on the proper brain functions of animals, including humans. They published their research today (Nov. 11) in eLife.
Patrick Drew, professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State and principal investigator on the project, explained that although more than 20 different varieties of neurons make up any section of the brain, type-one nNOS neurons in the somatosensory cortex — the region that processes touch, temperature and other sensory input from the body — play a critical role in stimulating the "spontaneous oscillation” of arteries and veins in the brain.
Read More: Pennsylvania State University
Image: Patrick Drew is leading a research team in investigating a rare neuron that appears to play a significant role in regulating blood flow in the brain of mice. (Credit: Kelby Hochreither/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.)
