CENTER FOR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR

Outline

This center produces gene modified rat/mouse and analyzes their behavior using multiple parameters under normal and various stressful conditions. The facilities in this center are open for the collaboratory use from researchers all over Japan.

Director

Professor: SHIGEMOTO, Ryuichi, PhD

Our research subjects include two major projects as follows.

First, we have focused on the reproductive biotechnology to understand gamete interactions during fertilization and the development of novel methodology to produce transgenic animals. Among them, we have a special interest in the increasing demand for production of gene-targeted (KO: knock-out) rats because use of rats rather than mice is advantageous in aspects of microsurgery and mapping of brain functions. Embryonic stem cell line and nuclear transfer (cloning) protocol have not yet been established in rats, attributing to slow progress of brain research. At present, we devote all our skills (e.g. in vitro fertilization, animal cloning, microinsemination, spermatogonial transplantation) to look for the possibility of producing KO rats, and also provide collaborative services to produce conventional knock out mice, and transgenic mice and rats by pronuclear DNA microinjection or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-mediated DNA transfer.

Second, by using techniques of rodent transgenesis, we have analyzed the molecular and cellular mechanisms to form functional ocular dominance (OD) columns in the primary visual cortex. OD columns are known to be fundamental units of processing visual information to sense depth, and are anatomically well documented as models in the research area of neuronal plasticity. Coarse OD columns are set up around birth, which are subsequently remodeled to the functional structure by visual activity after eye open. Our final goal is to understand the comprehensive story underlying formation of functional OD columns, which can be achieved by taking advantage of molecular markers specific for developing OD columns that we have originally isolated.

Advanced Reproductive Technology in Rats

Fig.1 Spermatogonial transplantation in rats Fate of transplanted spermatogonial cells; Donor spermatogonial stem cells originated from EGFP-Tg rats can proliferate and differentiate in the recipient seminiferous tubules of c-myc-Tg rats (three months after the spermatogonial transplantation).

Fig.2 Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in rats Production of fertilized rat oocytes by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); A single fishhook-shaped sperm head is microinjected into ovulated and denuded oocytes with the aid of Piezo-micromanipulators.

Ocular Dominance (OD) Column

Fig.3 Process of OD column formation Coarse OD columns are set up around birth, and are subsequently instructed by incoming visual inputs to become functional structure after eye open.

Staff

	Associate Professor: HIRABAYASHI, Masumi, PhD 1981 Graduated from Faculty of Hygiene, Fujita Health University. 1981 Research Fellow, Laboratory Animal Center, Fujita Health University. 1983 Researcher, Research Institute of Life Science, Snow Brand Milk Products, Co. Ltd. 1992 Group Leader, YS New Technology Institute, Inc. 2001 Adjunct Associate Professor, 2002 Associate Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Laboratory Animal Science
	Assistant Professor: TOMITA, Koichi, MD, PhD 1994 Graduated from Mie University, School of Medicine. 1998 Graduated from Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine．1998 Postdoctoral Fellow, Kyoto University. 1999 Assistant Professor, Kyoto University. 2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology. 2006 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neuroscience
	Postdoctoral Fellow: KATO, Megumi, PhD 2000 Graduated from Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University. 2002 Completed the master course in Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University. 2004 Research Fellow, NIPS. 2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, NIPS, 2009 JST Research Fellow. Speciality: Reproductive Engineering

The section of behavior patterns has been established on 1 April, 2007. Dr. T. Miyakawa took office as the visiting professor of this section. In the year of 2008, the mouse breeding room and soundproof room for behavior tests were prepared and the equipments for a high-throughput behavioral test battery were purchased and set up. The purpose of our research group is to reveal functional significances of genes expressed in the brain and the endophenotype of psychiatric disorder by conducting a behavioral test battery and the functional analysis of the brain on genetically engineered mice. At the end of April 2009, we are getting ready for a behavioral test buttery using mice.

Staff

Professor: MIYAKAWA, Tsuyoshi, PhD 1993 Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Psychology. 1997 Completed a doctoral course in Psychology, the University of Tokyo. 2003 Associate Professor, Group Leader, Genetic Engineering and Functional Genomics Group, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. 2007 Professor, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science Fujita Health University. 2007 Adjunct Professor, NIPS.

Associate Professor (concurrent NIPS): KIMURA, Tohru, DVM, PhD 1983 Graduated from Tokyo University of Technology and Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture. 1985 Completed the master course in Agriculture, Tokyo University of Technology and Agriculture. 1986 Nihon Nosan Kogyo CO., LTD. 2002 Saitama Daiichi Pharmaceutical CO., LTD. 2005 Associate Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Laboratory Animal Science, Veterinary Dermatology