Role of glial cells in the neural mechanism of blood pressure elevation during exercise stress

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19368
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: National Hospital Organization Murayama Medical Center
• Principal Investigator: Yoshizawa Masashi 独立行政法人国立病院機構村山医療センター(臨床研究部), 電気生理学研究室, 共同研究員 (40836277)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高血圧 / 低酸素 / 交感神経活動 / グリア細胞 / マイクログリア / ミノサイクリン / 低酸素換気応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The details of the neural mechanism by which blood pressure increases during exercise are unknown. Recently, it has become known that glial cells, in　addition to neurons, are involved in the central blood pressure regulation　mechanism, which is the increase in sympathetic nerve activity due to stress and the resulting increase in blood pressure. In this study, to elucidate the mechanism of blood pressure elevation during exercise, we analyzed how blood pressure and respiratory parameters are affected during hypoxia using minocycline, which suppresses microglial activity.
Administration of minocycline decreased blood pressure before hypoxic loading, but did not affect the response to hypoxia-induced blood pressure elevation.
But it was found to attenuate the response to hypoxia-induced ventilatory augmentation.

Free Research Field

中枢性血圧応答

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々の結果からは、マイクログリアは中枢性血圧調節機構と中枢性呼吸調節機構とに対して異なる方向性で修飾を行っているものと考えられた。運動に伴う血圧上昇にマイクログリアが積極的に関わっているという示唆は得られなかったものの、中枢神経系の調節機構に確かにグリア細胞が関与しており、それぞれのパラメーターに対して促進的、抑制的のいずれにも複雑に関与していることが判明した。このことは、中枢性の血圧・呼吸の応答機序の解明のための道筋の一つとなったと考えられる。