Molecular analysis of the effects of environmental factors on higher brain function using iPSC technology and mice

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18655
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 10:Psychology and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Nakazawa Takanobu 東京農業大学, 生命科学部, 教授 (00447335)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 3q29領域欠失 / 疾患モデルマウス / ultrasonic vocalization / 環境エンリッチメント / 環境要因 / 自閉スペクトラム症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism of onset for autism spectrum disorder remains largely unknown. In this study, we are focusing on environmental factors using a disease-model mouse with high validity for autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we found that enriching the breeding environment of mother mice resulted in the recovery of social behavioral abnormalities and developmental abnormalities in the nervous system of neonatal disease model mice. Taken Together, we provided data that contributes to understanding the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder and molecular mechanism behind environmental factors, as well as therapeutic interventions for autism spectrum disorder.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、環境要因というファクターが脳機能、特に社会性行動の制御機構や脳発達に与える影響の一端が分子レベルで明らかになりました。本研究成果から、自閉スペクトラム症の分子病態のみならず、環境要因に関する分子レベルの理解、及び自閉スペクトラム症の創薬に貢献する基礎データを提供することができたと考えられます。本研究成果は、社会的急務の自閉スペクトラム症の解決を加速することが期待される点で学術的意義が大きいものです。