Involvement of gliovascular complex in the therapeutic mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08018
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College (2022-2023); Shimane University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hashioka Sadayuki 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (00622523)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 竹下 治男 島根大学, 学術研究院医学・看護学系, 教授 (90292599)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 電気けいれん療法 / アストロサイト / グリア血管複合体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) shows efficacy in drug-resistant psychiatric disorders, although its mechanism of therapeutic action is unknown. We performed ECT on Gunn rats with abnormal gliovascular complex. ECT significantly increased cerebral vascular coverage by astrocytic end feet, which was reduced in the prelimbic area of frontal lobe and the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, improving depression-like behavior in Gunn rats. ECT also significantly increased the expression of AQP4 and claudin5 in the hippocampus. These results suggest that ECT may exert its therapeutic effect by restoring impaired formation of gliovascular complex.

Free Research Field

神経炎症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって、ECTの治療効果発現機序にグリア血管複合体の形成異常是正が関与している可能性を見出すことができた。ECTは現在の精神科臨床における最後の砦、いわば生物学的精神科治療のポジティブコントロールともいえるため、現在の薬物療法とは異なる、グリア血管複合体に基づいた新規治療薬開発への発展性が得られた。