Imaging of the function of enteric neurons in a simple vertebrate and manipulation of gut movement by using optogenetics

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K06998
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: University of Hyogo
• Principal Investigator: Hatta Kohei 兵庫県立大学, 生命理学研究科, 教授 (40183909)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 光遺伝学 / 腸神経系 / カルシウムイメージング / 咽頭歯 / 平滑筋 / 蠕動運動 / ゼブラフィッシュ / 摂食行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The gut of vertebrate has enteric nervous system (ENS) which is also called the second brain. We developed an experimental system to study development, function and regeneration of ENS in vivo with zebrafish larva.
By labeling ENS in multi-colors, we revealed migration, cell division and neurogenesis from the vagal neural crest in vivo. We performed Ca2+ imaging of enteric neurons, smooth muscles, mucosa, EC cells as well as pace-make cells, and revealed the relationship between the activity of each cell and the gut movement.
We also showed that photo-activation of one to a few cells in the gut expressing ChR2 could activate or arrest various gut movement, for the first time in the vertebrate.

Free Research Field

神経生物学　発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

透明なゼブラフィッシュの幼生を用いて、生きた個体内で腸神経系の発生・機能・再生をライブイメージングによって調べることができる実験系を確立した。また、光遺伝学的手法によって、光で腸の動きを体内で制御することに成功した。これらの成果は、腸の発生と機能をひとつひとつの細胞レベルで解析し、ヒルシュスプルング病や過敏性腸症候群（IBS）など、さまざまな腸の疾病の原因や治療法を明らかにするための基礎を提供する。