Role of the lateral habenula in autonomic regulation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03339
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Masayuki 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (50577864)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小金澤 禎史 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 助教 (80431691)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 外側手綱核 / 自律神経系 / ドーパミン / セロトニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the neural mechanism by which emotion affects autonomic regulation. We found that electrical stimulation of the lateral habenula, which is a small brain nucleus in the epithalamus involved in the generation of negative emotion, evoked changes in heart rate and blood pressure that are regulated by the autonomic nervus system. This effect was reduced by administration of dopamine receptor and serotonin receptor antagonists, and was also reduced by inactivating nuclei from which dopamine neurons and serotonin neurons originate. These results suggest that the lateral habenula is responsible for inhibitory autonomic regulation via the dopamine and serotonin systems.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の研究は、外側手綱核の異常とうつ病や心的外傷後ストレス障害（PTSD）との関係について報告している。本研究で得られた成果は、情動が自律神経制御に影響する神経メカニズムを報告した学術的意義に加え、うつ病やPTSDで見られる自律神経機能の失調が、外側手綱核からドーパミン神経系あるいはセロトニン神経系につながる神経回路の異常によって引き起こされる可能性を示唆しており、これらの疾患の診断法や治療法の開発につながるものと期待できる。