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Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the adult brain

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaofei Gao

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Xing-jun Chen

    (Beijing
    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
    Peking University)

  • Meng Ye

    (Beijing
    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
    Capital Medical University
    Changping Laboratory)

  • Jun-Liszt Li

    (Beijing
    Peking University)

  • Nannan Lu

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Zhejiang University)

  • Di Yao

    (Beijing
    Capital Medical University)

  • Bo Ci

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Fei Chen

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Nanchang University)

  • Lijun Zheng

    (Beijing
    Capital Medical University)

  • Yating Yi

    (Sichuan University)

  • Shiwen Zhang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Zhanying Bi

    (Beijing
    Nankai University)

  • Xinwei Gao

    (Beijing)

  • Yuanlei Yue

    (the George Washington University)

  • Tingbo Li

    (Westlake University)

  • Jiafu Lin

    (Fujian Health College)

  • Ying-Chao Shi

    (Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology)

  • Kaibin Shi

    (Capital Medical University; Chinese Institutes for Medical Research)

  • Nicholas E. Propson

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Yubin Huang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Katherine Poinsatte

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Zhaohuan Zhang

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Naval Medical University)

  • Dale B. Bosco

    (Mayo Clinic)

  • Shi-bing Yang

    (University of California at San Francisco
    Academia Sinica)

  • Ralf H. Adams
  • Volkhard Lindner

    (MaineHealth Institute for Research)

  • Fen Huang

    (University of California at San Francisco
    Takeda Pharmaceuticals)

  • Long-Jun Wu

    (Mayo Clinic)

  • Hui Zheng

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Simon Hippenmeyer

    (Am Campus 1
    Stanford University)

  • Ann M. Stowe

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Kentucky)

  • Bo Peng

    (Fudan University)

  • Marta Margeta

    (University of California at San Francisco)

  • Qingchun Guo

    (Beijing
    Capital Medical University)

  • Xiaoqun Wang

    (Changping Laboratory
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Qiang Liu

    (Tianjin Medical University General Hospital)

  • Jakob Körbelin

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Martin Trepel

    (University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Augsburg University)

  • Hui Lu

    (the George Washington University)

  • Guoen Cai

    (Fujian Health College)

  • Bo O. Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bo Shen

    (Beijing (NIBS)
    Tsinghua University)

  • Ying-mei Lu

    (Nanjing Medical University)

  • Wenzhi Sun

    (Beijing
    Capital Medical University)

  • Jie-Min Jia

    (Westlake University)

  • Feng Han

    (Nanjing Medical University)

  • Hu Zhao

    (Beijing
    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College)

  • Robert M. Bachoo

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Woo-ping Ge

    (Beijing
    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
    Changping Laboratory)

Abstract

The brain vasculature supplies neurons with glucose and oxygen, but little is known about how vascular plasticity contributes to brain function. Using longitudinal in vivo imaging, we report that a substantial proportion of blood vessels in the adult mouse brain sporadically occlude and regress. Their regression proceeds through sequential stages of blood-flow occlusion, endothelial cell collapse, relocation or loss of pericytes, and retraction of glial endfeet. Regressing vessels are found to be widespread in mouse, monkey and human brains. We further reveal that blood vessel regression cause a reduction of neuronal activity due to a dysfunction in mitochondrial metabolism and glutamate production. Our results elucidate the mechanism of vessel regression and its role in neuronal function in the adult brain.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaofei Gao & Xing-jun Chen & Meng Ye & Jun-Liszt Li & Nannan Lu & Di Yao & Bo Ci & Fei Chen & Lijun Zheng & Yating Yi & Shiwen Zhang & Zhanying Bi & Xinwei Gao & Yuanlei Yue & Tingbo Li & Jiafu Lin &, 2025. "Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the adult brain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60308-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0
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