Peri-Locus Coeruleus Controls Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity in Enriched Environments via Region-Specific Norepinephrine Signaling
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The brain acts as a central integrator that enables organisms to interpret environmental stimuli and coordinate adaptive responses across the body. While enriched environments are known to enhance neural plasticity and cognitive function, their impact on peripheral organ systems remains less understood. Here, we show that enriched environmental conditions activate a peri-locus coeruleus (peri-LC) neuronal ensemble that preserves CD31 hi EMCN hi type H endothelium, a specialized bone-associated endothelial subtype, against age-associated decline, thereby enhancing femoral bone density. Chemogenetic activation and ablation experiments further revealed that this peri-LC ensemble is functionally distinct from other sympathetic regulatory brain regions in its control of bone endothelial heterogeneity and skeletal mass. Three-dimensional bone clearing and spatial analyses showed that CD31 hi EMCN hi endothelium is closely associated with sympathetic nerve terminals. The peri-LC mediates this process through sympathetic signaling and β2-adrenergic receptors on bone vascular endothelial cells. In vivo imaging further demonstrated that norepinephrine release is spatially restricted, with sprouting endothelial cells near the growth plate exhibiting the highest sensitivity. Together, these findings reveal a refined brain–periphery regulatory logic in which distinct sympathetic brain circuits engage spatially restricted norepinephrine signaling to coordinate organ-specific vascular and skeletal adaptations.
