Elucidation of the function of the sleep architecture based on the identification of novel brainstem neuronal circuits

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03353
• 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: The University of Tokyo (2022); Kyoto University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: HAYASHI Yu 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (40525812)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we have been working to elucidate the effects of intervening the sleep architecture for long periods on brain functions and their molecular mechanisms in mice. To this end, we chronically manipulated the neural circuits that control sleep architecture. As a result, we found that mice in which sleep architecture was manipulated show various behavioral abnormalities and that there are abnormalities in gene expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In addition, as a result of further clarification of the operating principles of neurons that control sleep architecture, several groups of neurons that control REM and non-REM sleep have been identified, revealing part of the neural basis for the various effects of interventions on sleep architecture.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

睡眠構築は、疾患や発達障害、さらには睡眠薬の影響を大きく受ける。こうした長期的な睡眠構築の異常がもたらす影響についてはよくわかっていない。ヒトでの前向きな調査研究では、睡眠構築の特徴によっては、認知症を発症するリスクや様々な要因で死亡するリスクが高まることが近年報告されたが、因果関係は明らかでない。本研究で私たちはマウスにおいて、最新の神経科学ツールを用いて睡眠構築に介入することで、様々な影響が生じることを見出した。これらの知見は、一部の動物で複雑に進化した睡眠構築という謎多い生理現象の意義を理解する重要な手掛かりを与えるものと期待される。