Pathophysiological study of autism spectrum disorders using whole brain activity mapping

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19335
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 47:Pharmaceutical sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Hashimoto Hitoshi 大阪大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 教授 (30240849)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / 3q29

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavioral deficits caused by the microdelition of the human chromosome 3q29 region. Using whole-brain imaging system, we discovered that disruption of oxytocin signaling leads to social behavioral deficits in 3q29 deletion mice. furthermore, excessive activation in the auditory cortex was found to be implicated in these abnormalities of 3q29 deletion mice. These findings demonstrate the utility of imaging pharmacology using unbiased brain-wide activity mapping in elucidating the molecular basis of brain dysfunctions.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自閉スペクトラム症の中核症状である社会性障害の「治療薬の開発に直結する」分子病態をシングル細胞レベルで明らかにした本研究の成果は、神経発達障害である自閉スペクトラム症の病態を「大人になった後でも」治療を可能にする薬物・戦略の開発に資するものであり、社会的急務の中枢疾患の解決を加速する点で学術的・社会的意義が大きい。