근육 세포 수축에 의해 생성되는 화학 신호를 연구하면 운동을 통해 뇌 건강을 개선하는 방법을 알 수 있습니다.

Beckman의 연구원들은 수축하는 근육의 화학적 신호가 어떻게 건강한 뇌를 촉진하는지 연구했습니다. 그들의 연구 결과는 이러한 신호가 새로운 두뇌 네트워크의 개발 및 조절을 돕는 동시에 운동을 통해 두뇌 건강을 개선하는 방법을 가리키는 방법을 보여줍니다.

신체 활동은 종종 신체 및 정신 건강을 개선하는 방법으로 인용됩니다. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology의 연구원들은 뇌 건강을 보다 직접적으로 향상시킬 수 있음을 보여주었습니다. 그들은 근육 운동의 화학적 신호가 어떻게 뇌의 뉴런 성장을 촉진하는지 연구했습니다.

그들의 작업은 저널에 게재되었습니다. 신경학.

무거운 역도의 이두박근과 같이 운동 중에 근육이 수축하면 다양한 화합물이 혈류로 방출됩니다. 이러한 화합물은 뇌를 포함하여 신체의 다른 부분으로 이동할 수 있습니다. 연구자들은 특히 운동이 해마라고 불리는 뇌의 특정 부분에 어떻게 도움이 되는지에 관심을 가졌습니다.

이기윤 박사는 “해마는 학습과 기억, 따라서 인지 건강에 중요한 부위”라고 말했다. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign의 기계 과학 및 공학 학생이자 연구의 주 저자입니다. 따라서 운동이 해마에 어떤 이점을 주는지 이해하면 다음과 같은 다양한 조건에 대한 운동 기반 요법으로 이어질 수 있습니다.[{” attribute=””>Alzheimer’s disease.

Hippocampal neurons (yellow) surrounded by astrocytes (green) in a cell culture from the study. Image provided by the authors. Credit: Image provided by the study authors: Taher Saif, Justin Rhodes, and Ki Yun Lee

To isolate the chemicals released by contracting muscles and test them on hippocampal neurons, the researchers collected small muscle cell samples from mice and grew them in cell culture dishes in the lab. When the muscle cells matured, they began to contract on their own, releasing their chemical signals into the cell culture.

The research team added the culture, which now contained the chemical signals from the mature muscle cells, to another culture containing hippocampal neurons and other support cells known as astrocytes. Using several measures, including immunofluorescent and calcium imaging to track cell growth and multi-electrode arrays to record neuronal electrical activity, they examined how exposure to these chemical signals affected the hippocampal cells.

The results were striking. Exposure to the chemical signals from contracting muscle cells caused hippocampal neurons to generate larger and more frequent electrical signals — a sign of robust growth and health. Within a few days, the neurons started firing these electrical signals more synchronously, suggesting that the neurons were forming a more mature network together and mimicking the organization of neurons in the brain.

However, the researchers still had questions about how these chemical signals led to growth and development of hippocampal neurons. To uncover more of the pathway linking exercise to better brain health, they next focused on the role of astrocytes in mediating this relationship.

“Astrocytes are the first responders in the brain before the compounds from muscles reach the neurons,” Lee said. Perhaps, then, they played a role in helping neurons respond to these signals.

The researchers found that removing astrocytes from the cell cultures caused the neurons to fire even more electrical signals, suggesting that without the astrocytes, the neurons continued to grow — perhaps to a point where they might become unmanageable.

“Astrocytes play a critical role in mediating the effects of exercise,” Lee said. “By regulating neuronal activity and preventing hyperexcitability of neurons, astrocytes contribute to the balance necessary for optimal brain function.”

Understanding the chemical pathway between muscle contraction and the growth and regulation of hippocampal neurons is just the first step in understanding how exercise helps improve brain health.

“Ultimately, our research may contribute to the development of more effective exercise regimens for cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease,” Lee said.

Reference: “Astrocyte-mediated Transduction of Muscle Fiber Contractions Synchronizes Hippocampal Neuronal Network Development” by Ki Yun Lee, Justin S. Rhodes and M. Taher A. Saif, 2 February 2023, Neuroscience.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.01.028

In addition to Lee, the team also included Beckman faculty members Justin Rhodes, a professor of psychology; and Taher Saif, a professor of mechanical science and engineering and bioengineering.

Funding: NIH/National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation