Central actions of relaxin-3 on astrocyte migration, cortical arteriolar flow and cerebral damage

relaxin-3 对星形胶质细胞迁移、皮质小动脉血流和脑损伤的中枢作用

• 批准号: 37810-2010
• 负责人: Summerlee, Alastair
• 金额: $ 3.06万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=450735
• 关键词: Central; actions; relaxin; astrocyte; migration

Injuries of the brain resulting from trauma or stroke are the leading cause of disability in the Western World. When injury occurs, the blood supply to an area is often compromised, the affected tissue dies and a scar forms. These changes affect the ability of nerve cells to communicate and result in processing deficits. We have known that the hormone relaxin is present throughout the body for a long time but recently, a specific type of this hormone has been found to be located solely within the brain. We know that relaxin outside the brain causes an increase in blood flow to tissues and reduces the amount of scarring after damage and is involved with remodelling of connective tissue. Therefore, the purpose of the current work is to investigate whether or not the specific brain version of relaxin acts on the brain to increase blood flow and reduce scarring particularly after injury. This is a study in basic physiology to understand how the specific brain relaxin might function. We will examine the way cells in the brain that provide the connective tissue framework, known as astrocytes, move and change position to cause scars and explore whether or not brain relaxin affects that process. Astrocytes are the most numerous cells in the brain and provide structure and help regulate the local environment in the brain. Part of this work will be done in the laboratory using techniques where it is possible to examine the way astrocytes migrate and part will be done in whole animal preparations in anaesthetized animals looking at the way astrocytes move in response to trauma and loss of blood supply. We will also explore whether or not brain relaxin causes small blood vessels on the surface of the brain to dilate, increasing blood flow to an area. Experiments will be done in anaesthetized rats and isolated rat brain tissue. In the longer-term, these studies might highlight ways in which brain relaxin could be considered in the treatment of injuries in the brain.

在西方世界，由创伤或中风造成的脑损伤是导致残疾的主要原因。当损伤发生时，一个区域的血液供应通常会受到影响，受影响的组织死亡，并形成疤痕。这些变化影响神经细胞的交流能力，并导致处理缺陷。我们已经知道，松弛素激素在很长一段时间内存在于全身，但最近，人们发现这种荷尔蒙的一种特定类型只存在于大脑中。我们知道，大脑外的松弛素会增加流向组织的血流量，减少损伤后的疤痕数量，并参与结缔组织的重塑。因此，目前工作的目的是调查特定的大脑版本的松弛素是否作用于大脑，以增加血流量和减少疤痕，特别是在损伤后。这是一项在《基础生理学》上进行的研究，旨在了解特定的大脑松弛素可能如何发挥作用。我们将研究大脑中提供结缔组织框架的细胞，即星形胶质细胞，如何移动和改变位置以导致疤痕，并探索大脑松弛素是否影响这一过程。星形胶质细胞是大脑中数量最多的细胞，它提供结构并帮助调节大脑中的局部环境。这项工作的一部分将在实验室使用技术进行，在那里可以检查星形胶质细胞迁移的方式，部分将在麻醉动物的全动物准备中完成，观察星形胶质细胞在创伤和血液供应丧失时的移动方式。我们还将探索大脑松弛素是否会导致大脑表面的小血管扩张，增加某个区域的血流量。实验将在麻醉的大鼠和分离的大鼠脑组织中进行。从长远来看，这些研究可能会强调大脑松弛素可以被考虑用于治疗大脑损伤的方法。