Neural basis for pathway-selective activation of amygdala

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K20963
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience; Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Miyamichi Kazunari 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任准教授 (30612577)
• Research Collaborator: Ishii Kentaro 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 性的二形 / 神経回路 / フェロモン / 性行動 / 視床下部 / 扁桃体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In mice, chemosensory signals derived from mates or predators evoke stereotyped behavioral responses such as sexual or defensive behaviors. How a specific sensory input is converted to a stereotyped behavioral output remained elusive. In this study, we mapped responsible neural circuit for enhanced sexual behaviors of adult female mice induced by a male-specific sex pheromone called ESP1. In the medial amygdala, ESP1 activated distinct projection neurons depending on the sex of recipient mice. In hypothalamus, ESP1 and a predator’s signal (snake skin) were mediated by mostly non-overlapping neurons that were intermingled in the same brain region. Together, these data revealed the presence of labeled-line organization for processing the sensory signals that evokes innate behavioral outputs.

Free Research Field

神経科学