Morphology-function relationship in the astrocytes of Globus Pallidus

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293039
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: WANAKA AKIO 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90210989)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥田 洋明 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (40453162) ; 森田 晶子 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70647049)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: アストロサイト / 大脳基底核 / 運動 / 光遺伝学 / シナプス伝達 / Olig2

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We expressed GFP protein in the astrocytes of the Globus Palidus (GP) by double transgenic technology, which utilize Olig2 gene promoter-driven Cre recombinnase and ROSA-floxed-EGFP. Voluntary exercise (running) for three weeks renders the Olig2-astrocytes more complex and bushy morphologies than those of control (sedated) mice. These bushy astrocytes may be involved in synaptic transmission by promoting transmitter uptake and/or by releasing gliotransmitters. To test this hypothesis, we expressed channerhodopsin in the Olig2-astrocytes in the unilateral GP. By introducing blue laser beam, we specifically activated the astrocytes and checked effects on the mice behavior. The laser beam-treatment induced circling behavior in the double transgenic mice, suggesting that there might be invalance between ipsilateral and contralateral neural circuit activities of the basal ganglia. We are now investigating detailed molecular mechanismas underlying this behavior.

Free Research Field

神経化学、分子神経生物学