Date: March 14, 2016
Source: American University
A biological process in the brains of
zebra finches shows that the songbirds respond quickly to trauma and are
capable of controlling the natural inflammation that occurs to protect the
brain from injury.
Understanding the process well enough
could lead to therapies in humans to control inflammation and hasten recovery
from brain injury such as stroke, said American University Prof. Colin
Saldanha, whose study "Centrally Synthesized Estradiol is a Potent
Anti-Inflammatory in the Injured Zebra Finch Brain" has published
in Endocrinology here. Through experiments, Saldanha and his
colleagues found that estrogen-producing glial cells play a role in the rapid
response.
"The most surprising thing to me is
that the inflammation control is happening within hours, and that estrogen is
made in the brain around an injury site in response to an injury,"
Saldanha said. "These animals have evolved a mechanism to protect their
brains from injury very quickly."
Preserving brain function
Inflammation is a normal part of the
body's immune response. It affects the brain differently compared with other
parts of the body. In the brain, too much inflammation can cause degenerative
effects, or in the worst case scenario, death. Chronic inflammation causes cell
damage and the loss of important neurons that regulate memory, mood and
movement. Being able to control and limit inflammation in an injured brain may
preserve vital brain function.
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