Elucidation of a network between brain and testis

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19322
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Uesaka Naofumi 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 講師 (70597624)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 精巣 / カルシウム / 脳 / in vivo / イメージング / 活動操作

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are many unclear points for mechanisms of spermatogenesis. In this study, I examined the hypothesis that calcium regulates spermatogenesis. I applied calcium imaging and optogenetics to observe and manipulate calcium activity of testicular cells in real time in vivo. I could develop a new in vivo calcium imaging method and a activity manipulation method in mouse testis which could image and manipulate the calcium activity of cells in vivo at single cell level and multicolor. I also found a molecule mechanism which drives calcium activity in the testicular cells and that calcium activity might be involved in spermatogenesis.

Free Research Field

生殖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生殖細胞は生物の遺伝情報を次世代へ伝える細胞であり、進化に関わるロマンあふれる細胞である。本研究で生殖細胞である精子に注目し新規イメージング技術を開発したことにより、脳が精子形成を制御するメカニズムを明らかにできる可能性が出てきた。この研究の成果は、生物が次世代に情報を伝える仕組みやその結果起こる進化の仕組みを解明する上で重要な知見となる。