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2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Analysis of the mechanisms of cell death that involves a specific subgroup of motoneurons.

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18500266
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
Research InstitutionFukushima Medical University

Principal Investigator

YAGINUMA Hiroyuki  Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Professor (90230193)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HOMMA Shunsaku  Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Associate professor (20261795)
MASUDA Tomoyuki  Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Assistant professor (70372828)
Project Period (FY) 2006 – 2007
Keywordsprogrammed cell death / LIM homeodomoain / transcription factor / cervical / motoneuron / Hox / development / avian
Research Abstract

To determine the identity of the dying motoneurons (MNs) undergoing programmed cell death (PCD) at relatively early stages (E4-E5 in the chick embryo) and only in the non-limb innervating cervical spinal cord, we examined expression of subgroup-specific MN markers (Isl1, Is12, Lim3, MNR2 and Foxpl) in the dying MNs. PCD occurs only in a subgroup of MNs that express Isl1, Isl2, MNR2 and FoxPl but that lack Lim3 expression. This Lim3-negative (Lim3) MN subgroup appears as a distinct subpopulation in the dorsolateral region of the ventral horn by E4 after losing Lim3 expression and they are no longer observed by E5. However, following the rescue of MNs by Bc12 overexpression, Lim3- persisted at least until E5-5.5. When Lim3 was overexpressed on one side of the spinal cord, the number of dying MNs was markedly decreased at E4.5 and the number of surviving healthy MNs was increased after the period of cell death (E5.5). These results suggest that the downregulation of Lim3 is involved in the specification of the cell death fate of early dying cervical MNs. Furthermore, the fact that Foxpl is expressed by dying MNs suggests that Hox proteins that are specific to the cervical segments may play a role in this type of cell death. In situ hybridizaiton for Hox genes revealed that Hoxc5, Hoxa3, Hoxa5 are expressed by cervical motoneurons and their rostro-caudal extents of expression cover the segments where early motoneuron death occurs. These Hox genes might be involved in the determination of motoneuron subgroups that under go cell death.

  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2008 2007

All Journal Article (4 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results) Presentation (2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Netrin-1 acts as a repulsive guidance cue for sensory axonal projections toward the spinal cord.2008

    • Author(s)
      Masuda,T
    • Journal Title

      J Neurosci 28

      Pages: 10380-10385

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Netrin-1 acts as a repulsive guidance cue for sensory axonal projections toward the spinal cord2008

    • Author(s)
      Masuda, T., Watanabe, K., Sakuma, C., Ikenaka, K., Ono, K., Yaginuma, H.
    • Journal Title

      J Neurosci 28

      Pages: 10380-10385

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Guidance cues from the embryonic dorsal spinal cord chemoattract dorsal root ganglion axons.2007

    • Author(s)
      Masuda,T
    • Journal Title

      Neuroreport 18

      Pages: 1645-1649

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Guidance cues from the embryonic dorsal spinal cord chemoattract dorsal root ganglion axons2007

    • Author(s)
      Masuda, T., Sakuma, C., Taniguchi, M., Kobayashi, K., Kobayashi, K., Shiga, T., Yaginuma, H.
    • Journal Title

      Neuroreport 18

      Pages: 1645-1649

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] 「くび」の発生と神経細胞死2008

    • Author(s)
      八木沼洋行
    • Organizer
      第113回日本解剖学会総会・全国学術集会
    • Place of Presentation
      大分
    • Year and Date
      2008-03-30
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Presentation] Development of the neck region and cell death of motoneruons2008

    • Author(s)
      Hiroyuki Yaginuma
    • Organizer
      Annual Meeting, Japanese Association of Anatomists
    • Place of Presentation
      Ohita, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2008-03-30
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2011-06-18  

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