Membrane and synaptic properties of neurons that are involved in the velocity-position transformation in the vertical eye movement system

• Project/Area Number: 24650160
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: SAITO Yasuhiko 群馬大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70290913)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2013)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
• Keywords: 神経生理学 / 視線制御 / 神経積分器 / パッチクランプ法 / 眼球運動 / パッチクランプ

Research Abstract

To characterize neurons in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) that is involved in controlling vertical gaze, we investigated the electrophysiological properties such as firing pattern of INC neurons using whole-cell recordings in rat slice preparations. Furthermore, we compared the findings obtained from INC neurons to those previously obtained from neurons in the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus that is involved in controlling horizontal gaze. We found that the electrophysiological properties of INC neurons were similar to those of PHN neurons; however, the overall distribution of INC neurons that were classified based on the properties was different from that of PHN neurons. These findings suggest that the neuronal population involved in the gaze control is different between the horizontal and vertical system.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The vestibulo- and preposito-cerebellar cholinergic neurons of a ChAT-tdTomato transgenic rat exhibit heterogeneous firing properties and the expression of various neurotransmitter receptors (2014)
  • Author(s): Zhang Y, Kaneko R, Yanagawa Y, and Saito Y
  • Journal Title: European Journal of Neuroscience Volume: 39 Pages: 1294-1313
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The vestibulo- and preposito-cerebellar cholinergic neurons of a ChAT-tdTomato transgenic rat exhibit heterogeneous firing properties and the expression of various neurotransmitter receptors. (2014)
  • Author(s): Zhang Y, Kaneko R, Yanagawa Y, Saito Y.
  • Journal Title: Eur J Neurosci. Volume: 39 Issue: 8 Pages: 1294-313
  • DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12509
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Ca^<2+>-activated ion currents triggered by ryanodine receptor-mediated Ca^<2+> release control the firing of inhibitory neurons in the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus (2013)
  • Author(s): Saito Y and Yanagawa Y
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neurophysiology Volume: 109 Pages: 389-404
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Intrinsic membrane properties and nicotinic receptor-mediated current responses of cholinergic neurons in the medial vestibular and prepositus hypoglossi nuclei as analyzed in ChAT-tdTomato transgenic rats. (2013)
  • Author(s): Zhang Y, Kaneko R, Yanagawa Y, and Saito Y
  • Organizer: Society for Neuroscience
  • Place of Presentation: San Diego
• [Presentation] Pharmacological analyses of nicotinic current responses in the rat medial vestibular and prepositus hypoglossi cholinergic neurons. (2013)
  • Author(s): Zhang Y, Yanagawa Y, and Saito Y
  • Organizer: 日本神経科学学会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://genbehavneuro.dept.med.gunmau.ac.jp/Yanagawa_Lab/Home.html