日本名古屋大学Akihiro Yamanaka课题组的一项最新研究发现，快速眼动（REM）睡眠期活跃的产生黑色素浓缩激素的神经元（MCH神经元）参与遗忘海马区依赖性记忆。2019年9月20日，国际知名学术期刊《科学》发表了这一成果。

研究人员发现下丘脑中MCH神经元有助于REM睡眠期的遗忘。下丘脑MCH神经元密集地支配背侧海马。MCH神经元的激活或抑制分别损害或改善海马区依赖性记忆。体外MCH神经末梢的激活通过增加抑制性输入减少了海马锥体神经元的放电。唤醒活跃的和REM睡眠活跃的MCH神经元是随机分布在下丘脑中的不同群体。对MCH神经元进行REM睡眠期状态依赖性抑制会损害海马区依赖性记忆而不影响睡眠结构或质量。因此，下丘脑中REM睡眠期活跃的MCH神经元参与海马区中的主动遗忘。

据介绍，睡眠期间记忆调节的神经机制尚未完全了解。

附：英文原文

Title: REM sleep–active MCH neurons are involved in forgetting hippocampus-dependent memories

Author: Shuntaro Izawa, Srikanta Chowdhury, Toh Miyazaki, Yasutaka Mukai, Daisuke Ono, Ryo Inoue, Yu Ohmura, Hiroyuki Mizoguchi, Kazuhiro Kimura, Mitsuhiro Yoshioka, Akira Terao, Thomas S. Kilduff, Akihiro Yamanaka

Issue&Volume: Volume 365 Issue 6459

Abstract: The neural mechanisms underlying memory regulation during sleep are not yet fully understood. We found that melanin concentrating hormone–producing neurons (MCH neurons) in the hypothalamus actively contribute to forgetting in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Hypothalamic MCH neurons densely innervated the dorsal hippocampus. Activation or inhibition of MCH neurons impaired or improved hippocampus-dependent memory, respectively. Activation of MCH nerve terminals in vitro reduced firing of hippocampal pyramidal neurons by increasing inhibitory inputs. Wake- and REM sleep–active MCH neurons were distinct populations that were randomly distributed in the hypothalamus. REM sleep state–dependent inhibition of MCH neurons impaired hippocampus-dependent memory without affecting sleep architecture or quality. REM sleep–active MCH neurons in the hypothalamus are thus involved in active forgetting in the hippocampus.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aax9238

Source:https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6459/1308