# Role of interneurons in brain tissue oxygen regulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · ENDEAVOR HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS · 2022 · $310,676

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The regulation of oxygen in brain tissue is one of the most important fundamental questions in
neuroscience and medicine. The brain has high metabolic demands and its healthy function
depends on maintaining tissue oxygen within a relatively narrow range that is sufficiently high to
prevent hypoxia and low enough to minimize generation of toxic oxygen species. The regulation
of brain tissue oxygen in the cerebral cortex is influenced by excitatory activity, consisting of
thalamocortical input and pyramidal cells, as well as the activity of interneurons, yet how they
shape this vital process remains poorly understood. Based on published and preliminary data
we hypothesize that interneurons are primarily responsible for regulating brain tissue PO2
spontaneous fluctuations and stimulus-evoked responses according to their degree of neuronal
firing. In Aim 1, we will show that interneurons are required for PO2 regulation and blocking
interneuron output will result in decreased PO2 response in parallel with increased neuronal
activity. In Aim 2, we will determine whether interneurons are able to generate PO2 response
without excitatory activity. In Aim 3, we will establish that the amplitude and frequency of PO2
fluctuations depend on inhibitory and excitatory spontaneous neuronal activity by demonstrating
that interneurons are primarily responsible for high-frequency (8-15 cpm) PO2 fluctuations.
Simultaneous oxygen, MRI, and electrophysiological measurements combined with localized
pharmacological manipulations and sensory and optogenetic stimulation will provide information
about brain tissue oxygen regulation. These studies will provide a deeper understanding of the
physiology of interneurons and how they shape the oxygen level in brain tissue.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10409799
- **Project number:** 5R01NS107383-05
- **Recipient organization:** ENDEAVOR HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniil Aksenov
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $310,676
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10409799

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10409799, Role of interneurons in brain tissue oxygen regulation (5R01NS107383-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10409799. Licensed CC0.

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