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Control of cerebrovascular patterning by neural activity during postnatal development
Baptiste Lacoste1, Chenghua Gu1
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Mechanisms of Development
|June 28, 2015
Summary
The developing brain uses alternative mechanisms to manage energy demands before neurovascular coupling is established. Neural activity influences cerebrovascular network maturation, suggesting activity-induced vascular plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The brain's high energy demand and limited storage capacity make it vulnerable to vascular issues.
- Proper brain function relies on vascular network establishment, blood-brain barrier formation, and blood flow regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review alternative mechanisms coupling blood supply to energy demands in the developing brain.
- To explore how neural activity influences cerebrovascular network maturation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on recent evidence and proposed mechanisms.
- Analysis of studies on neurovascular coupling and vascular plasticity in early life.
Main Results:
- Neurovascular coupling is not functional immediately after birth.
- Alternative mechanisms are crucial for matching blood supply to energy needs in the developing brain.
- Neural activity plays a role in cerebrovascular network maturation.
Conclusions:
- The developing brain employs unique strategies to meet energy requirements before mature neurovascular coupling.
- Activity-induced vascular plasticity is a key factor in ensuring adequate brain perfusion during development.
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