A new artificial scotoma model by optogenetics and neural mechanisms of perceptual filling in

• Project/Area Number: 16K06983
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Kinoshita Masaharu 弘前大学, 医学研究科, 准教授 (60599083)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: ウイルスベクター / マカクザル / 視覚情報処理 / gene introduction / macaque monkey / neural pathway / 光遺伝学 / 知覚的充填 / 神経科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we applied a gene transfer method using a viral vector to macaque monkeys’ brain to express functional proteins in neurons of a specific pathway and to manipulate its functions. By selectively blocking the neural pathway from the superior colliculus to the pulvinar, we showed the importance of the superior colliculus - pulvinar pathway for visual information processing of the blindsight.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳機能を解明するために齧歯類などの小型モデル動物などに適用され多くの重要な成果を挙げている遺伝子導入による研究手法を、本研究ではよりヒトに近い霊長類（マカクザル）の脳に応用し、その視覚情報処理経路に関する新しい知見を得た。本研究の成果は単に新しい知見を加えたことのみならず、霊長類の脳機能の操作可能性を示すことで、将来的にはヒト脳疾患の新しい治療法開発への示唆を与えることが期待される。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Dissecting the circuit for blindsight to reveal the critical role of pulvinar and superior colliculus (2019)
  • Author(s): Kinoshita M, Kato R, Isa K, Kobayashi K, Kobayashi K, Onoe H, Isa T
  • Journal Title: Nat Commun Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 135-135
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08058-0
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Medium- to long-term survival and functional examination of human iPSC-derived retinas in rat and primate models of retinal degeneration (2019)
  • Author(s): Tu Hung-Ya、Watanabe Takehito、Shirai Hiroshi、Yamasaki Suguru、Kinoshita Masaharu、Matsushita Keizo、Hashiguchi Tomoyo、Onoe Hirotaka、Matsuyama Take、Kuwahara Atsushi、Kishino Akiyoshi、Kimura Toru、Eiraku Mototsugu、Suzuma Kiyoshi、Kitaoka Takashi、Takahashi Masayo、Mandai Michiko
  • Journal Title: EBioMedicine Volume: 39 Pages: 562-574
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.11.028
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Contribution of propriospinal neurons to recovery of hand dexterity after corticospinal tract lesions in monkeys. (2017)
  • Author(s): Tohyama, T., Kinoshita, M., Kobayashi, K., Isa, K., Watanabe, D., Kobayashi, K., Liu, M., and Isa, T.
  • Journal Title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Volume: 114 Issue: 3 Pages: 604-609
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1610787114
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research