2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Glutamatergic trigeminal circuits in relation to craniofacial bone metabolism

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21791800
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Morphological basic dentistry
Research Institution	The Nippon Dental University
Principal Investigator	IMURA Kosuke The Nippon Dental University, 生命歯学部, 助教 (10415086)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2010
Keywords	口腔解剖学(含組織学・発生学)
Research Abstract	Some studies have discussed that the nervous system contributes to bone metabolism. However, the neuroanatomical basis for bone metabolism is not clear especially in craniofacial bones. I have investigated the innervations of craniofacial bones by means of immunohistochemistry. Distribution patterns of the peripheral nerve were detected using antibody against vesicular glutamate transporter (VGluT). The VGluT positive nerve (VGluT+) releases glutamate as neurotransmitter. I found the VGluT+ terminals in the periosteum. The osteoclast and osteoblast contribute to bone metabolism and express glutamate receptors. The VGluT+terminals may effect to the bone metabolism as an extrinsic neural source of glutamate. I have been continuing to identify parent neurons of the VGluT+.