Project/Area Number |
23700408
|
Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
|
Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Research Field |
Neuroscience in general
|
Research Institution | Okazaki Research Facilities, National Institutes of Natural Sciences |
Principal Investigator |
KIMURA Yukiko 大学共同利用機関法人自然科学研究機構(岡崎共通研究施設), 岡崎統合バイオサイエンスセンター, 特別協力研究員 (70581122)
|
Project Period (FY) |
2011 – 2012
|
Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2013)
|
Budget Amount *help |
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
|
Keywords | 光遺伝学 / ゼブラフィッシュ / ロコモーション / 神経科学 |
Research Abstract |
Optogenetics is a innovative technique which allows us to control neural activity of specific neurons by light. In this research, I planned to apply optogenetics to analyzing function of the spinal motor circuits in zebrafish. First, I succeeded in generating several transgenic zebrafish expressing optogenetic molecules in specific neurons. Next, I tried to analyze the function of several spinal interneurons by using of these transgenic fish. However, this analysis was difficult to perform due to some technical limitations. Instead of the spinal cord, I analyzed specific neurons in the hindbrain using optogenetics. I identified a group of neurons which is indispensable to swimming behavior. This results is important for understanding the neural circuits controlling locomotion in vertebrates.
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