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Functional hypoxia drives neuroplasticity and neurogenesis via brain erythropoietin.
- Source :
- Nature Communications; 3/9/2020, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Erythropoietin (EPO), named after its role in hematopoiesis, is also expressed in mammalian brain. In clinical settings, recombinant EPO treatment has revealed a remarkable improvement of cognition, but underlying mechanisms have remained obscure. Here, we show with a novel line of reporter mice that cognitive challenge induces local/endogenous hypoxia in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, hence enhancing expression of EPO and EPO receptor (EPOR). High-dose EPO administration, amplifying auto/paracrine EPO/EPOR signaling, prompts the emergence of new CA1 neurons and enhanced dendritic spine densities. Single-cell sequencing reveals rapid increase in newly differentiating neurons. Importantly, improved performance on complex running wheels after EPO is imitated by exposure to mild exogenous/inspiratory hypoxia. All these effects depend on neuronal expression of the Epor gene. This suggests a model of neuroplasticity in form of a fundamental regulatory circle, in which neuronal networks—challenged by cognitive tasks—drift into transient hypoxia, thereby triggering neuronal EPO/EPOR expression. EPO treatment improves cognition, but underlying mechanisms were unknown. Here the authors describe a regulatory loop in which brain networks challenged by cognitive tasks drift into functional hypoxia that drives—via neuronal EPO synthesis—neurodifferentiation and dendritic spine formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20411723
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nature Communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 142141362
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15041-1