Functional and anatomical study of medial preoptic area regulating sexual dimorphic behaviors

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06509
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46020:Anatomy and histopathology of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Toho University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuneoka Yousuke 東邦大学, 医学部, 講師 (50549011)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 船戸 弘正 東邦大学, 医学部, 教授 (90363118)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: MPOA / 性的二型 / ISH / Moxd1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The medial preoptic area has been known to be a brain center of instinctive behaviors. We identified some gene expressions for the markers of sexually dimorphic area in the medial preoptic area, such as Moxd1 gene. To verify the functions of the sexually dimorphic cell groups, we investigated the behavioral change in the transgenic Cre-driver mice introduced some genes by AAV local injection. As a result, it was suggested that the cell groups which showed sexual dimorphism had functions on the sexual behavior and/or the parental behavior. In addition, we developed new ISH protocol. In this ISH protocol, we can visualize single copy mRNA in tissue, and other advantages in our protocol were shown.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、性は社会的にも連続的なものであり多様性があるものとして捉えられるようになりつつあるものの、性典型的な行動がどのようなメカニズムで表出されるのかについては大部分が不明である。そのような性差を脳の構造的な差異として示すことが出来るという点に本研究の意義がある。また、新規ISH法は非常に簡便かつ低コストであり、様々な生体情報をこれまで以上に容易に得ることが出来る技術である。