■Osumi Group
     embryo
  ■Osumi Group
postnatal & adult brain
 ■Wakamatsu Group
  Avian neural crest


We focus molecular and cellular mechanism of postnatal and adult neurogenesis in the rat and mouse brains.

Neurogenesis in the postnal and adult hippocampus
Gliogenesis in the cerebral cortex
Behavior analysis of Pax6 hetrozygous mutant
Differentiation of interneurons in the olfactory bulb


Neurogenesis in the postnal hippocampus
Pax6 is involved in many aspects of the brain development including neurogenesis. Expression of Pax6 is also observed in distinct regions of the adult brain, such as the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone neighboring the anterior lateral ventricle; both are known as regions where adult neurogenesis takes place. In order to understand Pax6 function as a driving force for neurogenesis in the adult stages, we are investigating hippocampal neurogenesis of Pax6 mutant rats, which lacks one allele of Pax6 gene (Tohoku J Exp Med. 193, 163-74.; Maekawa et al., 2005)。

【図2】成体海馬におけるPax6陽性細胞の分布
【Fig.1】Distribution of Pax6-positive cells in the adult rat hyppocampus
Pax6 is expressed in the progenitor like cells in the SGZ.


【図3】Pax6変異へテロラットにおける海馬神経幹細胞の性質の変化のまとめ
【Fig.2】Analysis of neurogenesis in the Pax6 heterozygous rat hyppocampus


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