Broad View of the Brain and Body

Just as people often “feel sleepy after a meal” or “become irritable when hungry,” the physiological state of the body strongly influences brain function. Conversely, signals from the brain regulate the entire body, both consciously and unconsciously, as seen in phenomena such as “body temperature decreasing during sleep” or “vomiting under excessive stress.” Our goal is to elucidate how specific neuronal populations and molecular signals regulate physiological functions at the whole-body level.

Melanin-Concentrating Hormone

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), produced in the lateral hypothalamic area of the brain, possesses a unique function among neuropeptides in that it induces REM sleep. In addition, MCH is involved in diverse physiological processes, including systemic energy metabolism, lactation, memory, and emotion. However, the neural circuits and receptor mechanisms underlying these functions remain insufficiently understood. By investigating MCH signaling, we aim to uncover how diverse behaviors and physiological states interact with and influence one another.

Expanding Animal Models / Suncus

Modern neuroscience, represented by technologies such as optogenetics, has been driven primarily by genetically modified mice. However, mice cannot be used to study molecules or behaviors that were evolutionarily lost in rodents. To overcome this limitation, we utilize the suncus (house musk shrew), a non-rodent experimental animal established in Japan, and combine it with genetic engineering approaches such as optical sensors for visualizing specific molecules and viral vectors incorporating sequence information derived from omics analyses. Through these approaches, we aim to reveal molecular mechanisms and behaviors that have been overlooked in conventional mouse-based studies.

Background

• Assistant professor

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• Secretary

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• Technician

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• Master’s student

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