Elucidation of a novel mechanism that serotonergic nervous system controls the formation of intestinal tract.

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18592
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Yaguchi Junko 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 学振特別研究員(PD) (60743127)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 腸管神経 / セロトン受容体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed how serotonergic neurons in the anterior neuroectoderm, which is reported homologous to vertebrates forebrain, influences the formation of digestive tract of sea urchin larvae. Because the stomach and intestine in the larvae, in which serotonin synthesis was inhibited, were smaller than those of control, we have tried to investigate gene expression patterns along the digestive tract to reveal what happened on the tissues without serotonin function. As a result, although the muscular structure of esophagus, stomach, and intestine were normal, a part of neuron-like cells in digestive tract was not normal, suggesting that the serotonin function is required for the formation of nervous system in sea urchin larvae.

Free Research Field

進化発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、脊椎動物前脳と相同のウニ前端部神経外胚葉のセロトニン神経が、遠く離れた組織である胃腸の形成に影響を与えることを明確に示すことができた。ウニと我々脊椎動物の共通祖先においてすでに脳と腸管神経系の形成は、それぞれが独立して発生を進めているものではなく、相互に密接な影響を及ぼしながら進行していた可能性が示唆された。