Brain Drain

A complicated network of blood vessels weaves through your brain, piping in a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. Around one in every 200 people – tens of millions every year - develop abnormal, leaky growths in this biological plumbing, leading to fits, strokes, bleeding in the brain and other problems, although the underlying cause of the growths is unknown. By studying developing mouse hearts like this one, seen down a microscope around halfway through pregnancy, researchers have discovered an unusual connection between these growing organs and the blood vessels in the brain. It turns out that abnormally active molecules that break down so-called cardiac jelly, which normally separates muscles from blood vessels in the developing heart, are also overactive in human brain blood vessels that develop growths. Figuring out the molecular triggers that lie behind these leaky malformations could lead to lifesaving new ways to plug the gaps.

Written by Kat Arney

Kat Arney

Writer

Dr Kat Arney is an award-winning science writer, broadcaster and public speaker, and is the founder and Creative Director of First Create The Media.

Website

• Image from work by Mark L. Kahn and colleagues
• Pennsylvania State University, USA
• Originally published under a Creative Commons Licence
• Research published in Developmental Cell, January 2015