Physiology and pathophysiology of basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical projections

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26250009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: NAMBU Atsushi 生理学研究所, システム脳科学研究領域, 教授 (80180553)
• Research Collaborator: KIMURA Minoru ; KAWAGUCHI Yasuo ; HATANAKA Nobuhiko ; CHIKEN Satomi ; KOBAYASHI Kenta ; HASEGAWA Taku
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / 視床 / 大脳皮質 / 淡蒼球 / 大脳基底核疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neuronal transmission from the basal ganglia to thalamocortical projection neurons was examined. First, virus vectors carrying halorhodopsin, which suppresses neuronal activity during yellow light illumination, were injected into the internal segment of the globus pallidus of Japanese monkeys. Then, the optrode made of combination of a metal electrode and a fiber optics was introduced into the thalamus, and thalamic neuronal activity was recorded. We found that movement-related increase of thalamic activity during task performance was greatly diminished by yellow laser light illumination. These results suggest that basal ganglia-thalamocortical neurotransmission is mediated by rebound excitation after inhibition.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

大脳基底核から視床―大脳皮質への情報伝達様式については、これまで大脳基底核からの抑制性入力によって視床が常に抑制されており、この抑制が一時的に解除され、視床が抑制から脱することにより活動すると考えられてきた（脱抑制説）。しかし、本結果は、大脳基底核からの抑制後のリバウンド興奮によって、視床に信号が伝達されていることを強く示唆するものであり、大脳基底核から視床―大脳皮質への情報伝達様式の考え方に大きな変革を迫るものである。