Basic technology for dynamics and control of neural circuit

Hirotaka Onoe (National Institute for Physiological Sciences)

Noninvasive imaging technologies for measuring neural circuit activity

The overall goal of our team is to contribute to understanding pathological processes in the nervous system caused by changes in functional structures and to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies by using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). To accomplish our goal, we aim to develop three methods: (1) dynamic imaging for complex biological and cellular functions in the living state, (2) clarification of the spatio-temporal processes of functional expression for activation of unique neural network structures, and (3) dynamic imaging analysis for the development and correlation of high function structural networks among the organs and cells that maintain homeostasis in the living bodies of macaques and genetically modified model mice.

We have already started research in the following three areas: (1) dynamic changes in neural circuits with functional recovery following spinal cord injury in monkeys, (2) dynamic changes of nerve fiber connections associated with neurodegeneration by diffusion-weighted imaging processing using MRI coils for macaque monkeys, and (3) mouse brain imaging at 60 μm isotropic resolution, utilizing a high resolution 7-Tesla MRI scanner and ultra-high sensitivity MRI coil system.

This project aims to establish methodologies that spatio-temporally evaluate changes to functional brain networks in mammalian models in which a neural circuit has been selectively intercepted by gene-recombination technology or focal injection of viral vectors, and in nerve damage models in monkeys, including spiral cord injury and surgically-induced cerebral infarction, combining MRI, PET, and other imaging technologies. In the near future we expect that these noninvasive imaging methods will be applied to humans with brain and spinal cord injuries and neuropsychiatric disorders.

 
Recent Publications
1. Sawada M, Kato K, Kunieda T, Mikuni N, Miyamoto S, Onoe H, Isa T, Nishimura Y. Function of the nucleus accumbens in motor control during recovery after spinal cord injury. Science. 2015 Oct 2;350(6256):98-101. doi:10.1126/science.aab3825. Epub 2015 Oct 1.
2. Hayashi T, Shimazawa M, Watabe H, Ose T, Inokuchi Y, Ito Y, Yamanaka H, Urayama S, Watanabe Y, Hara H, Onoe H. Kinetics of neurodegeneration based on a risk-related biomarker in animal model of glaucoma. Mol Neurodegener. 2013 Jan 18;8:4. doi: 10.1186/1750-1326-8-4.
3. Takata N, Yoshida K, Komaki Y, Xu M, Sakai Y, Hikishima K, Mimura M, Okano H, Tanaka KF. Optogenetic activation of CA1 pyramidal neurons at the dorsal and ventral hippocampus evokes distinct brain-wide responses revealed by mouse fMRI. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 20;10(3):e0121417. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121417.eCollection 2015.

Posted:2016/02/26