tudy of pathological mechanism underlying autism by focusing on nanoscale distribution of synaptic molecules

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K15048
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Namiki Shigeyuki 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 助教 (90452193)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Hirose Kenzo 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (00292730)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 精神疾患 / 自閉症 / シナプス / 超解像イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a superresolution imaging platform for microscopic analysis of synaptic molecules in the brain of psychiatric model animals. We optimized optical systems and experimental conditions for the fluorescence labeling of brain slices of model animals for STORM imaging. We also developed software for analyzing distribution of synaptic molecules in STORM images. STORM analysis of various regions of brain of the model mouse revealed the change in size and number of nanoclusters formed by dopamine receptors in striatum nucleus accumbens of DISC1 knockout mice. We confirmed that alteration of D2R nanoclusters in DISC1 knockout mice was improveed by administration of antipsychotic clozapine.

Free Research Field

薬理学