Structural plasticity of neurons associated with depressive state and its pathophysiological significance

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24249063
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Kato Tadafumi 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, チームリーダー (30214381)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-10-31 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: うつ病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the morphology of neurons of transgenic mice with neuron specific expression of mutant Polg. As a result, apical dendrites of medial prefrontal cortex of transgenic mice showed decreased mushroom spines and increase of filopodia. To further investigate dynamic morphological changes associated with depressive episodes, we established a system to observe morphology of neurons of the transgenic mice in vivo through a cranial window using two photon microscope.

Free Research Field

神経科学、精神医学