article published yes Xiaofei Gao author Jun-Liszt Li author Xingjun Chen author Bo Ci author Fei Chen author Nannan Lu author Bo Shen author Lijun Zheng author Jie-Min Jia author Yating Yi author Shiwen Zhang author Ying-Chao Shi author Kaibin Shi author Nicholas E Propson author Yubin Huang author Katherine Poinsatte author Zhaohuan Zhang author Yuanlei Yue author Dale B Bosco author Ying-mei Lu author Shi-bing Yang author Ralf H. Adams author Volkhard Lindner author Fen Huang author Long-Jun Wu author Hui Zheng author Feng Han author Simon Hippenmeyer author 37B36620-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-2279-1061 Ann M. Stowe author Bo Peng author Marta Margeta author Xiaoqun Wang author Qiang Liu author Jakob Körbelin author Martin Trepel author Hui Lu author Bo O. Zhou author Hu Zhao author Wenzhi Su author Robert M. Bachoo author Woo-ping Ge author SiHi department Principles of Neural Stem Cell Lineage Progression in Cerebral Cortex Development project The brain vasculature supplies neurons with glucose and oxygen, but little is known about how vascular plasticity contributes to brain function. Using longitudinal in vivo imaging, we report that a substantial proportion of blood vessels in the adult mouse brain sporadically occlude and regress. Their regression proceeds through sequential stages of blood-flow occlusion, endothelial cell collapse, relocation or loss of pericytes, and retraction of glial endfeet. Regressing vessels are found to be widespread in mouse, monkey and human brains. We further reveal that blood vessel regression cause a reduction of neuronal activity due to a dysfunction in mitochondrial metabolism and glutamate production. Our results elucidate the mechanism of vessel regression and its role in neuronal function in the adult brain. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/8616/19971/2025_NatureComm_Gao.pdf application/pdfno Springer Nature2025 eng 2041-1723 00152345050003510.1038/s41467-025-60308-0 16 X. Gao <i>et al.</i>, “Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the brain,” <i>Nature Communications</i>, vol. 16. Springer Nature, 2025. X. Gao, J.-L. Li, X. Chen, B. Ci, F. Chen, N. Lu, B. Shen, L. Zheng, J.-M. Jia, Y. Yi, S. Zhang, Y.-C. Shi, K. Shi, N.E. Propson, Y. Huang, K. Poinsatte, Z. Zhang, Y. Yue, D.B. Bosco, Y. Lu, S. Yang, R.H. Adams, V. Lindner, F. Huang, L.-J. Wu, H. Zheng, F. Han, S. Hippenmeyer, A.M. Stowe, B. Peng, M. Margeta, X. Wang, Q. Liu, J. Körbelin, M. Trepel, H. Lu, B.O. Zhou, H. Zhao, W. Su, R.M. Bachoo, W. Ge, Nature Communications 16 (2025). Gao X, Li J-L, Chen X, et al. Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the brain. <i>Nature Communications</i>. 2025;16. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0">10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0</a> Gao X, Li J-L, Chen X, Ci B, Chen F, Lu N, Shen B, Zheng L, Jia J-M, Yi Y, Zhang S, Shi Y-C, Shi K, Propson NE, Huang Y, Poinsatte K, Zhang Z, Yue Y, Bosco DB, Lu Y, Yang S, Adams RH, Lindner V, Huang F, Wu L-J, Zheng H, Han F, Hippenmeyer S, Stowe AM, Peng B, Margeta M, Wang X, Liu Q, Körbelin J, Trepel M, Lu H, Zhou BO, Zhao H, Su W, Bachoo RM, Ge W. 2025. Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the brain. Nature Communications. 16, 5840. Gao, X., Li, J.-L., Chen, X., Ci, B., Chen, F., Lu, N., … Ge, W. (2025). Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the brain. <i>Nature Communications</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0</a> Gao, Xiaofei, Jun-Liszt Li, Xingjun Chen, Bo Ci, Fei Chen, Nannan Lu, Bo Shen, et al. “Reduction of Neuronal Activity Mediated by Blood-Vessel Regression in the Brain.” <i>Nature Communications</i>. Springer Nature, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0</a>. Gao, Xiaofei, et al. “Reduction of Neuronal Activity Mediated by Blood-Vessel Regression in the Brain.” <i>Nature Communications</i>, vol. 16, 5840, Springer Nature, 2025, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0">10.1038/s41467-025-60308-0</a>. 86162020-10-06T08:58:59Z2025-09-04T07:08:37Z