Analysis of signaling for axon formation in corticospinal tract development

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26430036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University
• Principal Investigator: Omi Minoru 藤田保健衛生大学, 医学部, 助教 (00400416)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 神経科学 / 神経細胞 / 細胞分化 / 神経回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pyramidal neurons in the cortex form corticospinal tract that project to the spinal cord, generating some collaterals projecting to some nuclei such as pontine nucleus. To identify signaling molecules that function during the corticospinal tract development, we performed screening of genes of receptor molecules that may be expressed in the pyramidal neurons by knockdown experiment with shRNA expressing vectors. We focused two of genes listed by the screening which showed loss or truncation of collaterals in the pons when each was knocked down. We confirmed that those were expressed in the fifth layer in the cortex of newborns. When cortical neurons were cultured in the media with ligand protein of the receptor, blanching of the neurites was increased, suggesting that they may be involved in collateral formation of the pyramidal tract.

Free Research Field

神経科学