Elucidation of the migration mechanism of new neurons in the adult brain and development of new treatments for cortical injury

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15202
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46010:Neuroscience-general-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Mami 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 助教 (90880807)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ニューロン移動 / 脳室下帯 / 細胞接着 / 成体脳ニューロン新生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the adult brain, new neurons are continuously generated from neural stem cells in limited areas. These new neurons migrate in chains at high speed through the brain and mature when they reach the target region, contributing to the maintenance of brain function. In the injured brain, some of these new neurons also migrate in chains to the injured area, but the mechanisms remained unknown. In this study, we focused on the adhesion between neurons in chains and developed a new treatment for adult cerebral cortex injury.

Free Research Field

神経発生・再生医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、なぜ正常脳内では新生ニューロンが集団かつ高速で移動することができるのか、また、なぜ傷害脳内を移動する新生ニューロンは移動効率が低下してしまうのかを明らかになった。さらに、本研究により、傷害脳内を新生ニューロンが効率よく移動することが可能となる方法が見出され、成体大脳皮質傷害に対する新たな治療法の開発につながった。