Analysis of the effect of membrane potential change in the schwann cell of the cochlear and sciatic nerve on each of nerves

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18824
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Mitsuo 近畿大学, 医学部, 医学部講師 (40580775)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: inner ear / peripheral nervous / electrophysiology

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First, the expression of ChR2 (light-gated non-selective cation channel) in the cochlear and sciatic glial cells of transgenic mice was examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC). Although the detailed analysis identifying the precise expression sites with electron microscopy was not performed, ChR2-expressing targeted cells were confirmed using IHC. Based on the previous reports, we hypothesized depolarization of the glia cells could cause stimulation of the peripheral nerve, leading possibly to facilitation of nerve regeneration. In in-vivo experiments, the latency of the electrical response in the cochlear nerves became slightly shortened. The same experiments has been ongoing in the sciatic nerve.

Free Research Field

inner ear

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

神経を取り巻く髄鞘の脱分極が神経を刺激させることが末梢神経でも示唆された。これは蝸牛神経では神経疾患由来の感音難聴に対して、坐骨神経では外傷や神経疾患に対しての新たな治療戦略の一つとなり得る。光遺伝学は外部からの光刺激のみで非侵襲的に標的細胞の電位変化をもたらすことが可能で、臨床応用もすでに始まっている分野であり、期待が持てる。しかし、本実験結果はまだまだ不十分であるため、今後の更なる検討が必要である。また、神経刺激のみならず、神経の再生促進への関与も検討していく予定である。