在瑞典卡羅琳斯卡醫(yī)學院的科學家們，在德國和荷蘭科學家的協(xié)助下，發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種以前在大腦中未知的神經(jīng)細胞。這種神經(jīng)細胞具有調(diào)節(jié)心血管的功能，如心臟節(jié)律和血壓。人們希望這項發(fā)現(xiàn)將在長期的心血管疾病治療在人類起到重要作用，文章發(fā)表于《臨床研究雜志》

　　科學家們已經(jīng)成功地識別在老鼠之前完全未知的群大腦的神經(jīng)細胞。這些神經(jīng)細胞,也稱為“神經(jīng)元”,在大腦形成借助甲狀腺激素,是產(chǎn)生于甲狀腺。他干擾甲狀腺功能正常運作,因此，是干擾產(chǎn)生過多或過少的甲狀腺激素,所以，這些神經(jīng)細胞是甲狀腺激素發(fā)生的根源。這反過來又影響心臟的功能,導(dǎo)致心血管疾病。眾所周知,治療甲狀腺機能亢進患者(太高生產(chǎn)的甲狀腺激素)或甲狀腺功能減退(太低生產(chǎn)的甲狀腺激素)常?；忌闲呐K病。它曾被認為這純粹是由于荷爾蒙直接影響心臟。然而,這項新的研究顯示甲狀腺激素通過新發(fā)現(xiàn)的神經(jīng)元也間接影響心臟。“這一發(fā)現(xiàn)打開了一個全新的抗擊心血管疾病的方式可能性”,卡羅林斯卡醫(yī)學院細胞和分子生物學部門的組長MittagJens說，“如果我們掌握如何控制這些神經(jīng)元,我們將能夠通過大腦治療心血管疾病，如高血壓。然而,這是仍然在遙遠的未來。一個更直接的結(jié)論是,這對于識別和治療的孕婦甲狀腺功能減退至關(guān)重要的,因為他們低水平的甲狀腺激素可能會損害到在懷孕期胎兒的這些神經(jīng)元,這可能在長期導(dǎo)致心血管疾病的后代。”

　　A new type of nerve cell found in the brain

　　Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, in collaboration with colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands, have identified a previously unknown group of nerve cells in the brain. The nerve cells regulate cardiovascular functions such as heart rhythm and blood pressure. It is hoped that the discovery, which is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, will be significant in the long term in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in humans.

　　The scientists have managed to identify in mice a previously totally unknown group of nerve cells in the brain. These nerve cells, also known as 'neurons', develop in the brain with the aid of thyroid hormone, which is produced in the thyroid gland. Patients in whom the function of the thyroid gland is disturbed and who therefore produce too much or too little thyroid hormone, thus risk developing problems with these nerve cells. This in turn has an effect on the function of the heart, leading to cardiovascular disease. It is well-known that patients with untreated hyperthyroidism (too high a production of thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (too low a production of thyroid hormone) often develop heart problems. It has previously been believed that this was solely a result of the hormone affecting the heart directly. The new study, however, shows that thyroid hormone also affects the heart indirectly, through the newly discovered neurons. "This discovery opens the possibility of a completely new way of combating cardiovascular disease", says Jens Mittag, group leader at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet. "If we learn how to control these neurons, we will be able to treat certain cardiovascular problems like hypertension through the brain. This is, however, still far in the future. A more immediate conclusion is that it is of utmost importance to identify and treat pregnant women with hypothyroidism, since their low level of thyroid hormone may harm the production of these neurons in the foetus, and this may in the long run cause cardiovascular disorders in the offspring." More information: 'Thyroid hormone is required for hypothalamic neurons regulating cardiovascular functions', Jens Mittag, David J. Lyons, Johan S?llstr?m, Milica Vujovic, Susi Dudazy-Gralla, Amy Warner, Karin Wallis, Anneke Alkemade, Kristina Nordstr?m, Hannah Monyer, Christian Broberger, Anders Arner and Bj?rn Vennstr?m, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2013;123(1), online 21 December 2012, doi:10.1172/JCI65252

文章來源：http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-nerve-cell-brain.html