Analysis of sensory perception circuit formation using anterograde viral vectors

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14564
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Waseda University (2017); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2016)
• Principal Investigator: Hanashima Carina 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 准教授 (80469915)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳皮質 / 神経回路形成 / 経シナプストレーサー / 知覚神経回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The cerebral cortex consists of six neuronal layers that share common input and output connections to form a complex but ordered three-dimensional neuronal circuit. It has been postulated that sensory inputs from peripheral organs play an important role in construction of the sensory circuit in addition to endogenous gene program, however the contribution of input-dependent sensory circuit formation has remained largely elusive. In this study, we assessed the input and neuronal activity dependent mechanisms of sensory circuit formation by utilizing an anterograde trans-synaptic viral vector system and neuronal activity manipulation. Our results indicate that the precise neuronal wiring and areal establishment requires activity-dependent mechanisms of thalamocortical input and layer neuron maturation.

Free Research Field

神経発生学