Growth hormone is required for hippocampal engram cell maturation

Memory is stored in specialized cells known as engram cells, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. We discovered that the initial translation leading to growth hormone (GH) synthesis in engram cells is required for their maturation in the mouse dentate gyrus. Time-course experiments with a translation inhibitor suggested that the key molecule is immediately translated during learning. We identified GH as the crucial factor, specifically translated within the first few minutes of consolidation in engram cells. Blocking GH activity with a dominant-negative (G118R) mutation blocked engram maturation, whereas facilitating activity-dependent GH uptake alleviated engram maturation deficits caused by translation inhibition. Together, our findings propose GH as a key mediator of hippocampal engram cell maturation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2025-12-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aec7836
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.32
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article

Growth hormone is required for hippocampal engram cell maturation

H.J. Park, Binod Timalsina, Young Hoon Jung, Jun Cho et al.
1 citations
Science Advances
Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
1.32
article

Growth hormone is required for hippocampal engram cell maturation

H.J. Park, Binod Timalsina, Young Hoon Jung, Jun Cho, Dae Hee Han, Chuljung Kwak, Y. K. Kim, Ilgang Hong, Bong‐Kiun Kaang, Nam‐Kyung Yu, Yong‐Seok Lee, Chang‐Ho Kim
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Memory is stored in specialized cells known as engram cells, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. We discovered that the initial translation leading to growth hormone (GH) synthesis in engram cells is required for their maturation in the mouse dentate gyrus. Time-course experiments with a translation inhibitor suggested that the key molecule is immediately translated during learning. We identified GH as the crucial factor, specifically translated within the first few minutes of consolidation in engram cells. Blocking GH activity with a dominant-negative (G118R) mutation blocked engram maturation, whereas facilitating activity-dependent GH uptake alleviated engram maturation deficits caused by translation inhibition. Together, our findings propose GH as a key mediator of hippocampal engram cell maturation.

Science AdvancesVol. 11(51)
Seoul National University (KR), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Institute for Basic Science (KR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
1.32
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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