Induction of neurogenesis by manipulating gene expression

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26830010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Harima Yukiko 京都大学, ウイルス・再生医科学研究所, 研究員 (20712946)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 神経発生 / オプトジェネティクス / 静止状態の神経幹細胞 / 活性化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neurogenesis is occurring not only in the developing fetal brain but also in the adult brain. However, the activity of neurogenesis declines with aging, and many of the neural stem cells present in the adult brain are in the quiescent state. Successful activation of quiescent neural stem cells in the hippocampus is likely to induce neurogenesis associated with memory formation. Therefore, we are studying to activate quiescent state neural stem cells in the hippocampus to induce neurogenesis. As a recent result, we found a combination of gene expressions capable of activating dormant neural stem cell in culture. Currently, we are attempting to show whether these results can be reproduced in the real adult mouse brain.

Free Research Field

神経発生