Signal transduction and motor control regulated through by direct and indirect pathways in the basal ganglia to the thalamus

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07257
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51010:Basic brain sciences-related
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University (2022-2023); National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Sano Hiromi 藤田医科大学, 精神・神経病態解明センター, 准教授 (00363755)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / 線条体 / 黒質網様部 / 視床 / パーキンソン病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The basal ganglia (BG) are supposed to control voluntary movements.The BG receive input from the cortex, and process the information through pathways called direct, indirect, and hyperdirect pathways, and send the information back to the cortex through the thalamus. To clarify how the direct and indirect pathways regulate the activity in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), where is the output nuclei of the BG, and the thalamus, we used optogenetics to induce selective excitation in the direct or indirect pathways and recorded neuronal activity in the SNr and thalamus.
In the SNr, the direct pathway induced inhibition, and the collateral of the direct pathway induced excitation. The indirect pathway induced excitation in the SNr and inhibition in the thalamus. These changes in activity will contribute to motor control.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

直接路と間接路の神経生理学的な役割の解明は、大脳基底核が制御する正常な随意運動のメカニズムを解明するうえで不可欠であり、随意運動の精密な制御に関して基本的な知見を提供し、脳内の情報処理メカニズム、ネットワークダイナミクスに対する理解が深まる。また、大脳基底核の機能異常に起因するパーキンソン病やハンチントン舞踏病の病態生理学的変化を解明するための、重要な手がかりを提供することもできる。大脳基底核の機能に関する理解が深まることで、運動障害に対する新たな治療法の開発が期待できる。