Analysis of the itch specific neural network from the spinal cord to the brain

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870496
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology); Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Okayama University (2015); Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Takanami Keiko 岡山大学, 自然科学研究科, 日本学術振興会特別研究員(RPD) (70578830)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 痒み / 神経回路 / GRP / 超高圧電子顕微鏡 / 三次元電子顕微鏡 / 連続ブロック表面走査型電子顕微鏡 / SBF-SEM / 重金属ブロック染色法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Elucidation of the itch specific transmission mechanism advances rapidly since gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) has been discovered as a first itch specific mediator recently. We focused on the GRPR ligand, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), as a funcutional molecule of itch transmission and analyzed the hierarchical morphological analysis of itch transmission nerve terminals using light microscopy and various advanced electron microscope technique. As a result, the visualization of three-dimensional itch transmission synaptic structure succeeded at an ultrastructural level.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学