2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Physiological significance of pineal neurosteroids and the circadian rhythms in their synthesis
| Project/Area Number |
15K18571
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Morphology/Structure
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| Research Institution | Showa University (2016)
Waseda University (2015) |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | 光環境 / 松果体 / ステロイド / 小脳 / アロプレグネノロン / PACAP |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this study, we sought to examine the action of pineal neurosteroids. Following pinealectomy, we found that the reduced concentration of allopregnanolone induced apoptosis in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. However, administration of allopregnanolone to pinealectomized chicks prevented apoptosis in these cells. Subsequently, we have demonstrated that mRNA expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), an endogenous neuroprotective factor, is decreased following pinealectomy in the developing cerebellum of chicks. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effect of pineal allopregnanolone is associated with an increase in PACAP mRNA expression during the early stages of neuronal development. We therefore provide new evidence that pineal allopregnanolone may be involved in Purkinje cell survival mediated by PACAP action during development.
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| Free Research Field |
神経内分泌
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