Mechanisms underlying development of ependymal cells that constitute brain-CSF barrier

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Hiraoka Kotaro 東北大学, サイクロトロン・ラジオアイソトープセンター, 助教 (70586049)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OSUMI Noriko 東北大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (00220343)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 脳 / 脳脊髄液系 / 上衣細胞 / 発達・分化 / BMPシグナリング / 脳脊髄液

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the brain, there are spaces called "the ventricles". The ventricles contain fluid called "the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)". The ventricles are covered by layers of the ependymal cells. The cells regulate transfer of various molecules between the brain and CSF. The ependymal cells protrude hairlike structures called "the cilia" to the ventricles. Motility of the cilia affects dynamics of the CSF. In development of the brain, it is not fully clarified which factors induce development of the ependymal cells from stem cells to mature cells. In this study, we analyzed association between bone morphogenetic protein, a protein used in the body for signaling, and development of the ependymal cells. We also analyzed association between the CSF and development of the ependymal cells.

Free Research Field

神経科学、臨床神経学