The human milk component myo-inositol promotes neuronal connectivity
Andrew F Paquette1, Beatrice E Carbone2, Seth Vogel2
1Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511.
Summary
Myo-inositol, a sugar found in breast milk, promotes infant brain development by increasing neuronal connections. This micronutrient supports synapse formation and function in both developing and mature brain tissues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Micronutrient roles in brain connectivity are not fully understood.
- Human milk composition varies globally.
- Early infant brain development involves rapid neuronal connection formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify components in human milk that influence brain development.
- Investigate the role of myo-inositol in neuronal development and synapse formation.
- Determine the effects of myo-inositol on both developing and mature brain tissue.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human milk samples from diverse populations.
- In vitro studies using human and rat neurons to assess synapse abundance.
- In vivo studies in mice to evaluate the effects of dietary myo-inositol supplementation.
- Organotypic slice culture system to test bioactivity in mature brain tissue.
Main Results:
- Myo-inositol was identified as a key component in human milk promoting brain development.
- Myo-inositol dose-dependently increased synapse abundance in neurons.
- Dietary supplementation in mice enlarged excitatory postsynaptic sites.
- Myo-inositol treatment increased postsynaptic specializations and excitatory synapse density in mature brain slices.
Conclusions:
- Myo-inositol is a bioactive micronutrient in human milk that significantly supports infant brain development.
- This carbocyclic sugar enhances synapse formation and function, impacting both developing and mature neuronal networks.
- The findings highlight myo-inositol's crucial role in establishing neuronal connections during early life.
More Related Videos
09:02Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
19.5K
05:00Transplantation of Human Stem Cell-Derived GABAergic Neurons into the Early Postnatal Mouse Hippocampus to Mitigate Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Published on: November 11, 2022
2.5K
Related Concept Videos
01:31Neurotransmitters
1.0K
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
1.0K
01:25Nervous Tissue: Myelin
2.7K
The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
2.7K
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
2.8K
Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
2.8K
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
866
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
866