Mechanisms underlying formation of projection-specific circuits in the cerebral cortex

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06374
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46010:Neuroscience-general-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Tagawa Yoshiaki 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 教授 (50303813)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳 / 神経回路形成 / 発達 / 神経活動 / 脳梁

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Callosal axon projections are among the major long-range axonal projections in the mammalian brain. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of neural circuit formation, especially activity-dependent circuit formation, using callosal projections as a model. (1) We tested the possibility that during the circuit formation period, callosal projection neurons make specific subnetworks and use their synchronous correlated activity to form projection-specific circuits. (2) Focusing on ion channels as the molecular basis for spontaneous neural activity involved in activity-dependent callosal projections, we examined which ion channels are involved and whether functional manipulation of these channels can inhibit callosal projections through activity-dependent mechanisms.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

時期特異的神経活動操作実験から、マウスの脳において生後10日以降の自発神経活動が脳梁投射に重要な役割を担うこと、発達期特有の自発神経活動パターンが活動依存的回路形成に重要な役割を担うことを示した。また、その基礎としてCav1.2やNav1.2などのイオンチャネルが働いており、その機能亢進変異は活動依存的メカニズムを介して大脳初期回路形成を阻害しうることを明らかにした。