Functional mapping of excitatory synaptic inputs in the agranular insular cortex

• Project/Area Number: 25861764
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO Kiyofumi 日本大学, 歯学部, 助教 (30609764)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: 島皮質 / 局所神経回路 / uncaging / LSPS法 / 味覚野 / 無顆粒皮質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The insular cortex (IC) plays a pivotal role in processing multiple sensory information. Laser-scanning photostimulation (LSPS) mapping using slice preparations is suitable for exploring neural connections to comprehend the source of excitatory synaptic inputs to a cell.In the present study, we focused on the excitatory synaptic inputs to layer 5 neurons in the AI, which are considered to involve principal projecting neurons to other brain areas. Both pyramidal cells and fast spiking interneurons in upper and middle layer 5 showed the largest evoked EPSCs by stimulating around the recording cell soma, and the evoked EPSC amplitude steeply decreased with increasing distance from the soma. In contrast, the fast-spiking interneurons recorded from lower layer 5 received potent excitatory inputs from ventral and lower directions in the AI.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Fast-spiking Cell to Pyramidal Cell Connections Are the Most Sensitive to Propofol-induced Facilitation of GABAergic Currents in Rat Insular Cortex. (2014)
  • Author(s): Koyanagi Y, Oi Y, Yamamoto K, Koshikawa N, Kobayashi M.
  • Journal Title: Anesthesiology. Volume: in press
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Reciprocal regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission by nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in rat nucleus accumbens shell. (2013)
  • Author(s): Yamamoto K, Ebihara K, Koshikawa N, Kobayashi M
  • Journal Title: J Physiol Volume: 591 Issue: 22 Pages: 5745-5763
  • DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.258558
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Functional anatomy of gustation in the alert rat revealed by positron emission tomography (2013)
  • Author(s): Kobayashi, M., Cui, Y.L.., Sako, T., Sasabe, T., Mizoguchi, N., Wada, Y., Kataoka, Y., Koshikawa, N
  • Journal Title: J Neurosci Res Volume: 91 Issue: 10 Pages: 1363-1370
  • DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23252
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Cholinergic interneurons suppress action potential initiation of medium spiny neurons in rat nucleus accumbens shell (2013)
  • Author(s): Ebihara K
  • Journal Title: Neuroscience Volume: 236 Pages: 332-44
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.012
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Laser scanning photostimulation法を用いた島領野無顆粒皮質の局所回路の同定 (2014)
  • Author(s): 山本清文，小林真之，越川憲明
  • Organizer: 第130回日本薬理学会関東部会
  • Place of Presentation: 星薬科大学百年記念講堂 (東京都品川区)
  • Year and Date: 2014-07-05
• [Presentation] Functional mapping of excitatory synaptic inputs in the agranular insular cortex
  • Author(s): K. YAMAMOTO, N. KOSHIKAWA, M. KOBAYASHI;
  • Organizer: Society for Neuroscience
  • Place of Presentation: 米国、サンディエゴ
• [Remarks] 日本大学歯学部薬理学講座
  • URL: http://www2.dent.nihon-u.ac.jp/pharmacology/
• [Remarks] 日本大学歯学部薬理学講座
  • URL: http://www.dent.nihon-u.ac.jp/pharm/