Studies on mechanisms for specialization of neocortical areas

1)我们已经分析了在新皮质区域特异表达的基因。我们发现视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)在灵长类动物的关联区中特异表达。我们以前报道过OCC1(枕骨1)在灵长类动物的初级视皮层中特异表达。在这一阶段，我们发现occ1在灵长类新皮质中既有兴奋性神经元也有抑制性神经元的表达。然而，只有在灵长类新皮质中才能观察到活性依赖性和区域特异性OCC1的表达。这表明occ1表达的这些特征特征是在灵长类动物进化过程中特有的。2)我们利用限制性地标基因扫描(RLCS)在灵长类动物中寻找了区域特异性基因，发现了一组在灵长类动物新皮质区域特异表达的基因。我们目前正在对这些基因进行分析。3)我们发现新的转录因子zfh-5的反义RNA在大脑的几个区域以互补的方式表达。我们目前正在研究这种反义RNA表达的意义。4)与京都大学的樱井义夫教授合作，我们改进了最初由樱井义夫教授制作的大鼠视听辨别系统。在新的系统中，不同的模式(光和声音)从相同的位置给予大鼠，它们应该选择两种模式的特定组合(正确的刺激)来获得一粒食物。利用该系统，我们发现当大鼠从清醒状态转换到睡眠状态时，额叶皮质的7-12赫兹振荡增加。我们目前正在研究大脑中哪些类型的细胞可能参与了这一现象。5)我们开发了一种轮子跑步器，要求大鼠调整钉子的模式来喝前面的水。我们目前正在研究涉及哪些类型的细胞，以适应使用c-Fos映射技术的RAT运行模式的变化。

1)We have analyzed the genes that are specifically expressed in neocortical areas. We found that Rbp (retinol binding protein) is specifically expressed in primate association areas. We previously reported that occ1 (occipital 1) is specifically expressed in the primary visual cortex of primates. In this term, we found that occ1 is expressed both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the primate neocortex. However, the expressions of activity-dependent and area- specific occ1 are only observed in primate neocortices. This suggests that these characteristic features of occ1 expression specifically appeared during the course of primate evolution.2)We have searched for area-specific genes in primates using RLCS (restriction landmark cDNA scanning) and found a set of genes that are specifically expressed in neocortical areas in primates. We are currently analyzing these genes.3)We found that the antisense RNA of zfh-5, a novel transcriptional factor, is expressed in a complemental manner in several brain regions. We are currently studying the significance of this antisense RNA expression.4)In collaboration with professor Yoshio Sakurai, Kyoto University, we improved an audio-visual discrimination system in rats which was originally made by professor Sakurai. In the new system, different modalities (light and sound) are given from the same position to rats which should choose a particular combination of two modalities (the correct stimuli) to get a pellet of food. Using this system, we found that 7-12 Hz oscillation in the frontal cortex increased when rats were shifted from the awake to sleep state. We are currently studying what types of cells in the brain may be involved in this phenomenon.5)We developed a wheel running apparatus in which rats are asked to adjust a pattern of pegs to drink water in front. We are currently working what types of cells are involved to adjust for the running pattern change of the rat using c-Fos mapping techniques.