Elucidation of the role of the nucleus accumbens in motor function recovery after spinal cord injury; neural and molecular basis relating to motivation and plasticity

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24300196
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Onoe Hirotaka 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, ライフサイエンス技術基盤研究センター, グループディレクター (80214196)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HAYASHI Takuya 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, ライフサイエンス技術基盤研究センター, ユニットリーダー (50372115) ; KOJIMA Toshio 豊橋技術科学大学, 健康支援センター, 教授 (00311340) ; YAMANAKA Hajime 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, ライフサイエンス技術基盤研究センター, 特別研究員 (10415573) ; KAKUMOTO Kyoko 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, ライフサイエンス技術基盤研究センター, 研究員 (00442583)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ISA Tadashi 生理学研究所, 認知行動発達機構研究部門, 教授 (20212805) ; NISHIMURA Yukio 生理学研究所, 認知行動発達機構研究部門, 准教授 (20390693)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄損傷 / PET / 側坐核 / 精密把持 / マカクサル / p11 / マイクロアレー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to clarify the role, and neural and molecular mechanisms of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which are known to play a crucial role in motivation, in the recovery of motor function after the spinal cord injury by intensive rehabilitation, we performed lesion study, comprehensive gene expression analysis, and imaging experiments using monkey model of spinal cord injury.
We found that during recovery after spinal cord damage, the NAc is directly involved in the control of finger movements, and may regulate area-specific and time-dependent gene expression changes in M1, PMd and PMv for plastic functional reorganization. In addition, changes in serotonin neurotransmission in the NAc might be involved in motivation and depressive symptoms after the spinal damage. These results demonstrate that the NAc plays an essential role in the recovery of motor function after the spinal cord injury.

Free Research Field

脳機能画像解析、分子イメージング