Nerve injury-induced mitochondrial fission is involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial and axonal integrity

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25430036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Kiryu-Seo Sumiko (瀬尾寿美子) 名古屋大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70311529)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / 神経再生 / 運動ニューロン / Drp1 / ミトコンドリア分裂 / 神経変性 / 軸索 / ATF3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regenerating neurons are assumed to control mitochondrial dynamics properly to satisfy a huge energy demand and to maintain Ca2+ buffering. However, it is unclear how mitochondrial dynamics contributes to axonal and neuronal integrity in damaged neurons in vivo. We have found that short mitochondria are actively transported in regenerating motor nerves soon after nerve injury. The mice in which mitochondrial fission is ablated specifically in injured motor neurons have clarified that short mitochondria are divided mitochondria. Our study has demonstrated that acute and prominent mitochondrial fission is a crucial response during the early stage after nerve injury and is involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial and axonal integrity to prevent neurodegeneration.

Free Research Field

神経再生修復