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

在西方世界，由创伤或中风引起的脑损伤是残疾的主要原因。当受伤发生时，一个区域的血液供应往往受到损害，受影响的组织死亡，疤痕形成。这些变化会影响神经细胞的沟通能力，并导致处理缺陷。我们已经知道，激素松弛素是目前在整个身体很长一段时间，但最近，一种特定类型的这种激素已被发现只位于大脑内。我们知道大脑外的松弛素会增加组织的血流量，减少损伤后的疤痕数量，并参与结缔组织的重塑。因此，目前工作的目的是研究松弛素的特定大脑版本是否作用于大脑，以增加血流量并减少疤痕，特别是在受伤后。 这是一项基础生理学研究，旨在了解特定的大脑松弛素如何发挥作用。我们将研究大脑中提供结缔组织框架的细胞（称为星形胶质细胞）移动和改变位置以引起疤痕的方式，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，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中进行，使用的技术可以检查星形胶质细胞迁移的方式，另一部分将在麻醉动物的整个动物制剂中进行，观察星形胶质细胞响应创伤和血液供应丧失的方式。我们还将探讨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，这些研究可能会突出脑松弛素在治疗脑损伤中的作用。

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.