Japanese studies on neural circuits and behavior of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal organism for studying neural plasticity and animal behaviors. A total of 302 neurons of a C. elegans hermaphrodite have been classified into 118 neuronal groups. This simple neural circuit provides a solid basis for understanding the mechanisms of the brains of higher animals, including humans. Recent studies that employ modern imaging and manipulation techniques enable researchers to study the dynamic properties of nervous systems with great precision. Behavioral and molecular genetic analyses of this tiny animal have contributed greatly to the advancement of neural circuit research. Here, we will review the recent studies on the neural circuits of C. elegans that have been conducted in Japan. Several laboratories have established unique and clever methods to study the underlying neuronal substrates of behavioral regulation in C. elegans. The technological advances applied to studies of C. elegans have allowed new approaches for the studies of complex neural systems. Through reviewing the studies on the neuronal circuits of C. elegans in Japan, we will analyze and discuss the directions of neural circuit studies.

Schizophrenia and Depression Co-Morbidity: What We have Learned from Animal Models

“…Advancing technologies such as optogenetics and light sheet microscopy should aid in deciphering the roles of specific neural circuitry ( 456 ). Neural circuits can be further interrogated through the use of genetic approaches in simple model organisms such as Drosophila larvae and Caenorhabditis elegans ( 457 , 458 ). Conversely, applying genetic techniques to more complex organisms such as the rat will allow for the assessment of more sophisticated cognitive and social behaviors ( 174 ).…”

Neural circuits: Japan

“…On the other hand, C. elegans is an excellent model organism for circuit function analysis because its neuronal organization has been well-characterized, and diverse genetic manipulations are easily achievable. Using C. elegans , Japanese researchers have made significant contributions to the understanding of neural circuit that generate behaviors in response to sensory information such as odor and temperature (Sasakura et al, 2013 ). Thus, as in the USA and Europe, researchers in Japan are now focusing efforts to elucidate the function of neural circuits in diverse organisms by taking advantage of optogenetics, genetic manipulations, and traditional physiological and anatomical approaches, as well as neural pathway-selective inactivation techniques that have recently been developed in Japan.…”