For the brain needed "cell cleaners' - scientists

The human brain has its own internal "vacuum" - a cellular mechanism, which "cleans" the extra connections between neurons, providing a normal brain

To such conclusion the group of neurosciences led by Cornelius Gross of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

The researchers examined the function of microbial cells - one of the classes of brain cells in the brain that perform functions similar to functions of phagocytes. They absorb the remnants of destroyed cells and various pathogens. In the case of brain damage such as stroke, they "clean out" the dead and damaged nerve cells. However, until now it remained unclear what role micrograms in the intact brain, RIA Novato reported.

The authors noted that to date have accumulated quite a lot of evidence that micrograms is required for monitoring and supporting the function of synapses - connections between neurons, which play the role of "contacts" in the network of the brain.

Time Lapse showed that micrograms cells are actively moving, even in normal brain, and they frequently come into contact with synapses. In addition, studies have shown that micrograms cells are present in molecules of proteins characteristic of synapses.

This has led scientists to suggest that micrograms is involved in "thinning" of synapses in the early stages of brain development, when a too many connections between neurons.

To test this hypothesis, Gross and his colleagues created mice mutants, which was significantly less micrograms cells and then examined how their growing brains.

"What we found was similar to what happens in the brain, under certain autism cases - too many connections between neurons. Thus, we found that what works as micrograms may be an important factor in the development of several neurological disorders, "- said Gross.

At the same mutation, leading to a decrease in the number of micrograms cells, was only a temporary effect - after a while it was restored and communication in the brain come to order.