Functional morphology of dopamine synapses in the mouse striatum

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25830031
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: UCHIGASHIMA Motokazu 北海道大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10614662)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ドーパミン / 線条体 / ニューロリギン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons form a number of so-called dopamine synapses on stratal neurons, and have a strong influence on motor and cognitive functions. However, the molecular composition of dopamine synapses remains elusive. Here we found that dopamine synapses were heterologous contacts between a dopaminergic presynapse and GABAergic postsynapse in the mouse striatum, and synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin-2 was involved in their formation. These suggest that dopamine synapses can increase the potency and selectivity of dopaminergic modulation by the anchorage of dopamine release sites to target stratal neurons.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学