Neuronal circuitry rewiring during the progression of Parkinson's disease

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19508
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Hatanaka Yusuke 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定助教 (50581899)
• Research Collaborator: TAKAHASHI Ryosuke 京都大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (90216771)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 記憶痕跡 / 2光子in vivoイメージング / 前初期遺伝子 / パーキンソン病 / α-シヌクレイン / 神経変性疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a novel method which can analyze neuronal circuitry rewiring accompanying the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by visualizing neuronal activity engram using two-photon in vivo imaging. We used PD model mice which faithfully recapitulated the spatiotemporal expression pattern of PD-associated protein, α-synuclein, and which showed dopaminergic neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra and premotor symptoms of PD. In this study, we found that the neuronal activity engram after coordinated motor learning in the primary motor cortex of PD model mice was lower than control group. This suggest that neuronal circuitry plasticity in the motor cortex was already disrupted in this PD premotor symptom model and that could trigger later motor deficits.

Free Research Field

神経科学，神経内科学