Risk of learning deficit and mental disorder by prolonged maternal separation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: OHTA Ken-ichi 香川大学, 医学部, 助教 (50403720)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKEUCHI Yoshiki 香川大学, 医学部, 教授 (20116619) ; MIKI Takanori 香川大学, 医学部, 教授 (30274294) ; SUZUKI Shingo 香川大学, 医学部, 助教 (50451430) ; WARITA Katsuhiko 香川大学, 医学部, 助教 (40452669)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KUSAKA Takashi 香川大学, 医学部, 教授 (50274288)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 母子分離 / 神経回路網形成 / 海馬 / 樹状突起スパイン / 記憶・学習能 / BDNF / CaMKII / GluR1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Present study showed that prolonged maternal separation influenced formation of neuronal circuit in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus and hippocampus-dependent learning ability after weaning. In addition, prolonged maternal separation caused the reduction of BDNF-ERK signaling and hyperphosphorylation of GluR1 via CaMKII in the rat hippocampus. Given that these factors are closely related to synaptic formation, functional synapses are commenced to be formed around postnatal days 7-10, these alterations possibly disrupt normal functional acquisition of brain development. Our findings suggest that prolonged maternal separation disturbs the factors related to synaptogenesis during early brain development, which might be in part responsible for abnormalities of formation of neuronal circuit and learning deficit in later life.

Free Research Field

胎児・新生児医学