Identification of neural circuits that control social behavior

2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23700397
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: MIZUGUCHI Rumiko 独立行政法人理化学研究所, シナプス分子機構研究チーム, 研究員 (70450418)
• Research Collaborator: SHIOZAKI Momoko 独立行政法人理化学研究所, シナプス分子機構研究チーム, パートタイマー職員
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Keywords: 軸索性細胞認識分子 / BIG-2 / オープンフィールドテスト / 不安行動 / 視床下部 / 室傍核

Research Abstract

BIG-2 is an axon-associated cell recognition molecule that is involved in neural circuit formation in the brain. Recent studies implicated that BIG-2 is related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We previously found that BIG-2 knockout mice show increased anxiety in open field test and elevated plus maze test. To identify brain regions responsible for this abnormality, we mapped brain areas that were activated during the behavioral tests. We found that neuronal activity was elevated in parvocellular population of paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) in BIG-2 knockout mice after subjected to open field test. As PVH is known to play central roles in stress response, it is suggested that BIG-2 is involved in formation of neural circuits required for proper stress responses in novel environment.