CiNet Monthly Seminar
2017年4月14日（金）
16:00 ~ 17:00
会場 ： CiNet 1F 大会議室
“Functional engineering of astrocytes and mind”
東北大学 大学院生命科学研究科
松井 広
http://www.ims.med.tohoku.ac.jp/matsui/index.html
担当 : 中野珠実 (北澤グループ）
Abstract:
As the membrane potential of astrocytes fluctuates only slightly, it has been considered that astrocytes cannot serve as a medium of much information. However, using recently developed fluorescent probes, dynamic changes in the astrocytic ionic environment have been demonstrated. To reveal the role of astrocytes in brain function, the existence of astrocyte-to-neuron signaling pathway triggered by such astrocytic ionic changes needs to be shown. This study requires an on-demand control of astrocyte activity and, thus, we have created transgenic mice with astrocyte specific expression of light-sensitive membrane protein, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) or archaerhodopsin (ArchT). We noticed that activation of these tools results in acidification and alkalization of the cytosol, respectively, as the main cation that they convey across the plasma membrane is proton. By artificially lowering the intracellular pH buffering capacity, we show that astrocytic ChR2 photoactivation results in more intracellular acidification of astrocytes and enhanced release of glutamate. Using this tool for perturbation of astrocytic function, we show that neuronal signals are also affected by changes in the astrocytic state. Plastic change in the state of the brain activity could be due, in part, to the plastic changes of the astrocyte function.
About CiNet’s Monthly Seminar:
In CiNet Monthly Seminar, distinguished external (national and international) speakers will give a lecture about their latest work. The lecture will be held once a month from 16:00 at the CiNet main lecture theatre, followed by an informal discussion in the coffee room. List of speakers will be announced in advance. Everyone is welcome to attend, and welcome to join the after seminar discussion.
今後の予定：
# 7 5月15日（月）: Sensory gating during voluntary movement: neural correlates in the cortical and subcortical network.
関 和彦 国立精神・神経医療研究センター
# 8 6月5日（月）: Perceptual learning and neural plasticity in adult human brain
Fang FANG, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University
# 9 7月28日（金）: Building Lifelike Physical Characters
山根 克 Disney Research
#10 8月4日（金）: TBA
松崎 政紀 東京大学 大学院医学系研究科
#11 9月22日（金）: Prefrontal Cortex and Conscious Perception
Hakwan LAU, Department of Psychology (Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience) & Brain Research Institute, UCLA
#12 10月13日（金）: TBA
Ralph ADOLPHS, California Institute of Technology