Lack of oxygen affects the formation of memory in the brain

The study sheds light on the brain's response to temporary oxygen deprivation, known as anoxia-induced long-term potentiation (aLTP).

In a new study published in iScience, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and their collaborators have uncovered a crucial mechanism that could explain memory loss observed in conditions like stroke.

The study sheds light on the brain's response to temporary oxygen deprivation, known as anoxia-induced long-term potentiation (aLTP).

When the brain experiences a lack of oxygen, neurons release excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This increased glutamate triggers the production of nitric oxide  in both neurons and brain blood vessels.

Remarkably, the researchers discovered that this nitric oxide then boosts further glutamate release from neurons, forming a self-sustaining glutamate-nitric oxide-glutamate feedback loop.

"We wanted to know how oxygen depletion affects the brain and how these changes occur," said Dr. Han-Ying Wang, the lead author of the study. "It's been known that nitric oxide is involved in releasing glutamate in the brain when there is a shortage of oxygen, but the mechanism was unclear."

The formation of a positive feedback loop between glutamate and NO when the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen is an important finding. It explains the long-lasting nature of aLTP and may offer a solution for memory loss caused by a lack of oxygen.