Development of new correlative light and electron microscopy elucidating the connection between the change of ultrastructure and functional state of GnRH neurons

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23818
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0802:Biomedical structure and function and related fields
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: MORINAGA RYOSUKE 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (60845733)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ゴルジ装置 / 神経分泌細胞 / 視床下部 / 免疫組織化学 / 性腺刺激ホルモン放出ホルモン / バソプレシン / オキシトシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study examined the morphology of the Golgi apparatus of GnRH neurons, neurosectory cells located in the preoptic area, as the original plan.However, the organization of the Golgi apparatus of GnRH neurons was not affected by the sexual stimulations, castration and administration of sex steroid, increasing or decreasing the GnRH-secretion. Therefore, the target cells were changed to vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamus. The present study morphologically demonstrated the these neurons had more developed Golgi apparatus than the GnRH neurons and the osmotic stimulation changed the shape of trans-Golgi network. In the my future plan, the ultrastructure of the Golgi apparatus of these neurons will be demonstrated by the observation under electron microscope.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学、細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ゴルジ装置は粗面小胞体で生合成された蛋白質を分泌顆粒に選別・濃縮する細胞内小器官であり、ホルモンを大量に分泌する内分泌細胞においては発達している。研究代表者の所属する講座では、下垂体前葉内分泌細胞のゴルジ装置が立体的に球状などの特徴的な構造をしていることを明らかにしており、本研究ではさらに神経分泌細胞におけるゴルジ装置の立体構造を明らかにした。これら知見は、細胞の種類、機能状態とゴルジ装置形態との関係を解明する点において重要な基盤的情報になると考えられる。