Development of an analytical basis for elucidating the function of small spinule structures in the brain

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22469
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 46:Neuroscience and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Fukazawa Yugo 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 教授 (60343745)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 黒田 一樹 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 准教授 (60557966)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Spinule / 電子顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to develop the technical basis and analytical know-how to clarify the functional significance of small, infrequently observed subcellular structures in the brain, whose precise distribution and functional significance in the brain are still unknown. For this purpose, we developed an electron microscopic method optimized for the observation of spinules and multivesicular bodies (MVBs), and analyzed their localization and frequency in the brain under various conditions. As a result, we confirmed that quantitative analysis of low-frequency ultrastructures is possible by using a high-resolution scanning microscope equipped with a focused ion beam to obtain ultrastructural information over a wider area than conventional methods.

Free Research Field

分子神経解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Spinule様構造は1962年に初めて報告されたが (Westrum & Blackstad)、多様性や機能的役割についてのその後の報告は限られ(Spacek & Harris 2004)、その制御メカニズムは未解明であり、従ってその生理的意義も解明されていない。今回の研究成果は、生理的意義の解明に向けた解析基盤を構築した点、また、同様な微小構造体の解析にも応用可能である点で神経科学上の学術的意義があり、今後様々な生体内微小構造体の分布解析を通して、その機能に迫る方法論を提供した点で神経科学研究に留まらず広く医学生物学研究の推進に貢献するものである。