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2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Reactive oxygen species; physiological role in the brain

Research Project

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Project/Area Number 19K22834
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
Research InstitutionTokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology

Principal Investigator

Endo Shogo  地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究部長 (60192514)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 柿澤 昌  京都大学, 薬学研究科, 准教授 (40291059)
Project Period (FY) 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
KeywordsROS / 8-nitro-cGMP / 小脳 / 運動記憶 / 神経可塑性 / LTP/LTD / NO
Outline of Final Research Achievements

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) damages DNA and proteins through their chemical modifications. Because these lead to cell death, cancer and aging-related physiological issues in our body, ROS is thought to be “harmful molecule” in our common knowledge. On the other hand, recent studies suggest ROS plays physiological roles in cells and tissues. In this study, using biochemical and electrophysiological techniques, and behavioral and imaging analyses, we examined ROS's roles in cerebellum and found followings; 1) ROS generated by physiological patterns of neuronal activities; 2) ROS is involved in cerebellum-dependent motor memory and neuronal plasticity; 3) ROS-8-nitro-cGMP pathway affects the neuronal plasticity direction in a calcium-dependent manner in Purkinje cells. The results indicate that ROS is “physiological messenger” and is involved in higher brain functions. Future studies may clarify mechanism of ROS production and ROS-dependent long-term memory based on this study.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

抗酸化物質(ビタミンC やEなど)は、ROSが招く老化やガンなどの悪玉作用を抑制するとして抗加齢や健康増進のために補助食品として広く一般に用いられている。一方で、通常の食事を摂ればこの様な補助食品は不要であるとも報告されている。本研究では、脳においてROSが神経可塑性、運動記憶に重要であることを示した。そして、過剰なビタミンC/EやROSを除去する物質の投与が可塑性や記憶を阻害することも示した。したがって、ROSは必ずしも除去すれば良いわけでは無く、抗酸化物質の利用や過剰摂取に注意を要することが考えられる。

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Published: 2022-01-27  

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