2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Excitatory spinal interneuron networks activated by disinhibition
| Project/Area Number |
19K16931
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 51030:Pathophysiologic neuroscience-related
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| Research Institution | Showa University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | 脊髄 / 興奮性介在ニューロン / 抑制性介在ニューロン |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Neuronal networks in the spinal cord are normally inhibited, and disinhibition causes seizure-like spontaneous bursts in the ventral roots of all spinal segments. In this study, we found that a neuronal network (burst generator, BG) become apparent by this disinhibition exists in each spinal segment, and that the BG can be driven by sensory input from the dorsal root. Furthermore, excitatory coupling between BGs in each segment was strong, and disinhibition of the lower cervical spinal cord alone drove the entirety of each BG present throughout the spinal cord. However, in rare cases, driving of the BG innervating each muscle individually was also observed. In the future, if a method to control the BGs of each muscle individually is established, patients with spinal cord injury may be able to breathe and walk on their own.
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| Free Research Field |
整形外科学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
高位脊髄損傷では脳から脊髄への指令経路が遮断されるため、歩行運動などの随意運動や呼吸運動ができない。生命維持のために人工呼吸器が必要である。本研究から各脊髄節にBGが存在すると考えられた。また同一脊髄節内に運動ニューロンが存在する筋でも対応するBGが別個に存在することも示唆された。横隔膜を支配する運動ニューロンへのBGを個別に駆動できれば、陽圧人工換気を用いずに呼吸できる可能性がある。またBG出力の強弱を制御できれば歩行させることも可能だ。このようなBGの制御方法の解明は、脳から脊髄への下行路を再生させる研究においても不可欠な知識となる。
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