Drug discovery research targeting brain neurochemical signals responsible for induction of abnormal behaviors in mouse models of psychiatric disorders

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460099
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pharmacology in pharmacy
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: AGO Yukio 大阪大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 助教 (50403027)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MATSUDA TOSHIO 大阪大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 教授 (00107103) ; TAKUMA KAZUHIRO 大阪大学, 大学院歯学研究科, 教授 (90289025)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 精神疾患 / エンカウンター刺激 / 個体間相互作用 / 環境因子 / 覚せい剤 / 抗うつ薬 / 雌選択性試験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that psychological stress plays an important role in expression of symptoms in various types of mental illness. In this study, we have established a novel methodology for assessing social interaction as a psychological stressor, named the social encounter test. Then, we identified the primary neurochemical signal for induction of abnormal behaviors in post-weaning isolation-reared mice, a mouse model of psychiatric disorders. Using the encounter response, furthermore, we developed a new test for evaluating reward-seeking behavior or motivation in mice. These analyses would provide new insights into the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, depression and drug dependence, and the development of therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

Free Research Field

神経精神薬理学