research content

The effects of external environmental factors (food, chemical substances, relaxation, exercise, stress, etc.) on the brain development pairs of newborns and young mice within the first month of life are diverse, including molecular biology, functional morphology, and behavioral science. It is analyzed using various techniques. In addition, we are aiming to elucidate the neurological pathology of developmental disorders and to develop new treatments from research using independently developed mouse models of developmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders). These studies are being carried out in collaboration with other laboratories within the Faculty of Department of Biosciences and Human Information Systems, and laboratories of other facilities such as the National Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (Germany) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences. increase.

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate School students through lectures on animal-related subjects such as biochemistry, cell biology, animal physiology, and neurobiological science and engineering (Graduate School), animal physiology experiments, biochemistry experiments, and experiments / practices such as anatomy training (Ushigaeru). We are educating students.

Research on elucidation of neurological pathology of developmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders)

Our research group focused on SHANK3, a gene related to autism spectrum disease (ASD), and created knockout mice and transgenic mice for SHANK3 using gene modification technology. In this research project, through histology, molecular biology, and biochemical analysis, we will analyze the expression of functional molecules important for neural signal transduction during brain development and morphological analysis of the developmental process of nervous system cells. , Aiming to elucidate the neurological pathology of ASD. We also approach from mother-to-child communication of newborn mice and behavioral analysis based on social and motor functions of juvenile mice. Furthermore, we are aiming to elucidate the neurological pathology of developmental disorders by using not only genetically modified mice of SHANK3 but also pathological model mice that exhibit symptoms similar to ASD and attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to drugs.

Studies on the effects of environmental factors on brain development

We are analyzing the effects of environmental factors (drugs and stress) on brain development from the perspective of epigenetics. In particular, in order to investigate the effects of drug intake during pregnancy regarding DNA methylation, we comprehensively analyzed the changes in methylation of genes in the brain of newborn mice over time, and genes important for healthy brain development. I am aiming to identify. The findings obtained from this research project are extremely useful for deepening the understanding of the brain with developmental disorders and for considering the target genes for drug discovery research aimed at the onset mechanism of developmental disorders and the development of fundamental treatment methods.

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Introduction of Shigeo Uchino