Exploring the therapeutic potential of hypothermia

Hypothermia can preserve neuron health following brain injury, but complications from external cooling make it less promising therapeutically. Recent evidence suggests that activating a specific neuron population triggers a reversible, hibernation-like hypothermic state without external cooling, but does this form of hypothermia still preserve neuron health? In a new JNeurosci paper, researchers led by Takeshi Sakurai at the University of Tsukuba explored this question using male mice. 

The researchers found that triggering this specific hypothermic state in mice improved motor performance following brain injury. Imaging methods showed that neurons also had improved survival in the injured brain area accompanied by less signs of neuroinflammation. The researchers further identified cellular features consistent with the idea that this form of hypothermia may preserve neural health. 

While this work is preclinical, the authors suggest that it unveils a potential way to work around complications from external cooling when using hypothermia as a treatment for traumatic brain injury. Speaking on future experimental plans, says Sakurai, “Optimizing the timing and duration of this treatment after injury, testing across additional injury models, and evaluating safety and efficacy in larger animals will be important next steps.”

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About JNeurosci 

JNeurosci was launched in 1981 as a means to communicate the findings of the highest quality neuroscience research to the growing field. Today, the journal remains committed to publishing cutting-edge neuroscience that will have an immediate and lasting scientific impact, while responding to authors' changing publishing needs, representing breadth of the field and diversity in authorship. 

About The Society for Neuroscience 

The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, now has nearly 35,000 members in more than 95 countries.