A study on molecular mechanisms of the parallel organization of auditory thalamocortical projections

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26830013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Takemoto Makoto 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 助教 (20543408)
• Research Collaborator: HASEGAWA Kayoko
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 聴覚神経回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of a parallel organization of auditory thalamocortical projections in mice. To identify genes involved in the formation of the auditory thalamocortical projections, we searched for genes with differential expressions in the auditory thalamus, the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN), by using a DNA microarray. As a result, we found two genes encoding membrane proteins that strongly expressed in the ventral division of the MGN (MGv) with a medial-high / lateral-low expression gradient. The direction of this expression gradient in the MGv largely corresponded to the topography of auditory thalamocortical projections. Our results provide two candidate MGv genes that might be involved in the formation of parallel auditory thalamocortical circuitries during development.

Free Research Field

神経科学