哺乳动物大脑尺寸可塑性适应性基因表达的季节性和比较证据
William R Thomas1, Troy Richter2, Erin T O'Neil2
1Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, New York, United States.
eLife
|May 1, 2025
概括
欧亚常见在冬天会缩小它们的大脑和器官,并在春天重新生长. 这种惊人的大脑尺寸可塑性涉及与能量,细胞死亡和大脑屏障发展相关的基因表达变化.
科学领域:
- 动物学 动物学
- 神经生物学 神经生物学 神经生物学
- 遗传学 遗传学 是一个
背景情况:
- 欧亚常见 (Sorex araneus) 呈现出一种独特的冬季适应:可逆的器官减小,包括大脑.
- 了解这种极端的大脑尺寸可塑性背后的遗传机制对于理解哺乳动物适应至关重要.
研究的目的:
- 为了研究Sorex araneus季节性大脑大小变化的分子基础.
- 确定在冬季适应过程中参与代谢平衡和大脑可塑性的基因和途径.
主要方法:
- 分析子下丘脑中的季节性差异性基因表达.
- 跨物种对下丘脑基因表达的比较分析.
主要成果:
- 鉴定了与能量恒常和亡相关的基因的季节性变异.
- 发现了涉及下丘脑血脑屏障发展和信号传递的基因的特异性上调.
- 发现与人类神经和代谢疾病的重叠基因表达模式,包括CCDC22.
结论:
- 在冬季,Sorex araneus具有适应性和可塑性机制来调节能源预算.
- 观察到的基因表达变化突显了代谢平衡,大脑大小可塑性和寿命之间的联系.
- 这些发现提供了对人类神经和代谢疾病相关的保存途径的见解.
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