2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Neural circuit basis for integration of visual information in zebrafish pretectum
Project/Area Number |
19K23787
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Review Section |
0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
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Research Institution | National Institute of Genetics |
Principal Investigator |
Matsuda Koji 国立遺伝学研究所, 新分野創造センター, 特任研究員 (40845228)
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Project Period (FY) |
2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | 視覚 / 前視蓋 / 神経回路 / ゼブラフィッシュ / オプティックフロー / カルシウムイメージング |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
We aimed to test the hypothesis that various types of neurons in the pretectum compute behaviorally relevant information by hierarchical neural circuits. Using transgenic lines that label subsets of pretectal neurons, we examined neural activity of pretectum neurons in response to the visual stimulus as well as their morphologies at single cell level. We found that neurons located in the lateral and ventral region of the pretectum showed two prominent response types that required complex computation. Furthermore, we also found that there are at least two morphologically distinct types of neurons in this region: one type of neurons that possess a loop-like neurite that branch locally, and the other type of neurons that project to the torus longitudinalis, the optic tectum and the cerebellum. Our results offer insights into how visual information is processed in the pretectal circuits and how the pretectal circuits send the output to the premotor/motor centers.
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Free Research Field |
神経科学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
動物は、受容した視覚情報に応じて適切な行動をとる必要があるが、それを実現する神経回路基盤の全容は解明されていない。本研究により見出した前視蓋腹側/側方領域のニューロンは、両方の眼からの情報を統合していると考えられる。さらに、これらの前視蓋ニューロンは、運動制御に関与する下流脳領域へ視覚情報を伝達している可能性がある。今後、下流脳領域への投射様式のさらなる同定や視覚依存的行動における機能解析を行うことで、視覚情報処理から行動の発現に至る神経回路基盤の解明が進むことが期待される。
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