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Study Reveals Impact of Hippocampal Inflammation on Behaviour in Mice
Recent research has shown that inflammation in the hippocampus, a vital region of the brain associated with memory, significantly influences motivation and behavioural patterns in mice, particularly in food-seeking activities. Notably, the study highlights distinct behavioural differences between male and female mice.
The hippocampus is central to processes such as memory consolidation, learning, and emotional management. Neuroinflammation within this area is linked to a variety of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Depression. Individuals suffering from these disorders often report symptoms such as apathy, challenges in day-to-day functioning, and shifts in dietary preferences, with women frequently experiencing these effects more acutely than men.
“Inflammation in the hippocampus is not the sole determinant of behavioural changes; however, it likely initiates broader neural responses that shape how behaviours manifest,” remarked Dr. Laura Bradfield, a co-author and Director of the Brain and Behaviour Lab at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Dr. Bradfield also noted the potential for novel treatment approaches targeting hippocampal neuroinflammation, which could alleviate cognitive and behavioural difficulties in affected individuals, particularly women.
The findings of this study, titled “Hippocampal neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide causes sex-specific disruptions in action selection, food approach memories, and neuronal activation,” were published in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity.
In their experiments, researchers introduced inflammation to mouse hippocampal cell cultures by applying lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin known to provoke a robust immune response. They discovered that neuronal activation occurred only when this toxin was present alongside other brain cell types, such as microglia and astrocytes, underscoring the intricate dynamics at play during inflammatory responses in the brain.
In an effort to assess behavioural outcomes, the team injected lipopolysaccharide directly into the hippocampus of the test subjects and monitored their activity and food-seeking behaviours. The results indicated that neuroinflammation led to increased levels of activity in both male and female mice, though the effects on food-seeking behaviour were significantly more pronounced in females.
Dr. Kiruthika Ganesan, the lead author who recently earned her PhD at UTS, emphasized the necessity of acknowledging sex-specific behavioural responses when developing treatment protocols for neurological illnesses. “This study offers novel perspectives on the ways neuroinflammation can modulate brain function, potentially guiding the creation of therapeutic strategies that target both cognitive and behavioural symptoms associated with various diseases,” she explained.
Furthermore, Dr. Ganesan expressed hope that future investigations will delve deeper into the mechanisms driving these sex-specific effects, including the role of hormones like estrogen, and their broader implications for maintaining brain health.
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