Dynamical aspect of morphology in the plastic synapse due in-vitro conditioning to an isolated brain

2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 12680783
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: TOKAI UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: SAKAKIBARA Manabu Tokai University, School of High-Technology for Human Welfare Professor, 開発工学部, 教授 (10135379)
• Project Period (FY): 2000 – 2001
• Keywords: Hermissenda / in-vitro conditioning / increase of excitability / morphological change at axon terminal

Research Abstract

It is well known that the sea snail, Hermissenda crassicornis, is capable of acquisition learning of the sequential events between light and vestibular turbulence. After acquisition of learning excitability in the typeB photoreceptor was enhanced and this was realized by increment of the input resistance and the prolonged light response together with the morphological change especially at the B cell axon "terminal. The same physiological change was observed in the in-vitro conditioning of an isolated brain with the natural stimuli, light" and vibration. The aim of this project was focused of the morphological change at the B photoreceptor in the in-vitro conditioned isolated brain. Observation with a confocal microscope revealed that the morphological change happened even in 5 times in-vitro conditioning process. This change was much faster than we predicted and may suggested that the mechanism was not involved any genetic change.