Role of gap junctions in cholinergic amacrine cells on visual information processing maturation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16910
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University (2022); Nippon Medical School (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Maruyama Takuma 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (90838103)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: コリン作動性アマクリン細胞 / スターバーストアマクリン細胞 / 網膜 / ギャップ結合 / 生後発達 / コネキシン / ドーパミン受容体 / 視覚経験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cholinergic amacrine cells, which play an important role in the maturation of neural circuits in the retina, form gap junctions during the developmental stages of the mouse retina. Using immunohistochemical, molecular biological and electrophysiological analyses, I found that cholinergic amacrine cells form gap junctions with neighboring heterogeneous cells before the eye opens.

Free Research Field

網膜生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、生後発達期の網膜におけるコリン作動性アマクリン細胞の機能の理解に貢献するとともに、網膜神経回路の成熟化におけるコリン作動性アマクリン細胞の役割の解明につながることが期待される。