Researcher Database

（Last updated : 2022-05-19 11:23:44）

TANAKA HIDEKAZU

Department / Course College of Life Sciences Department of Biomedical Sciences

Title / Position Professor

Other Affiliations
1.	Graduate School of Life Sciences

Academic background
1.	～1995/03	Doctorial Course │ School of Medicine │ Osaka University │ Completed PhD
2.	～1989/03	Medical School │ Osaka University │ Graduated

Business career
1.	2013/04/01	│ Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of LifeSciences, │ Ritsumeikan University
2.	2011/03/01 ～ 2013/03/31	Associate professor │ Graduate School of Medicine │ Osaka University
3.	1996/09/16 ～ 1999/09/15	postdoctoral fellowResearcher │ │ Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
4.	1995/04/01 ～ 2011/02/28	Assistant professor │ Medical School │ Osaka University

Committee and society
1.	2012/08 ～ 2014/03	The Japanese Pharmacological Society Public Relations Committee

Research activities
1.		The Japanese Society for Neurochemistry
2.		The Japanese Pharmacological Society

Subject of research
1.	Remodeling of neural circuit.

Research summary
Remodeling of neural circuit. 　I aim to understand the mechanism, functions and disease state of our brain by observing the nature of neurons. 　It is considered that activities necessary to keep alive and sophisticated spiritual activities leading to personality as "a person" are largely attributable to intricately built brain neuron circuits. 　Neuron circuits are woven up by cells' extending long neurite and adhering to the target cells (synapse junction). When neurons that are generated in the process of forming a human body extend the protrusions, neuron circuits starts to be formed. At first, substances showing protrusion's inducing or reacting action work to advance protrusion's induction, then protrusions join to the encountered protrusions with cell adhesion molecules and the formation is complete. As described above, when a cytomembrane adheres to another cytomembrane in the synapse like the relation between a key and a keyhole, the program is run to form neuron circuits. We observe the mechanism of synapse and neuron circuits for cell adhesion molecules that serve as a key and a keyhole, in particular, function of cadherin. 　Even after neuron circuits are complete, repeating a part of synapse formation process will strengthen, inhibit or regenerate synapse junction. It is imagined that these mechanisms are the basis of rich adaptability our brains have, such as memory, learning, and physical restoration acquired by addiction to drugs or rehabilitation. We have considered if cadherin could be involved in these processes. As the research progresses, we have been recognizing that cadherin is involved in physiology of synapse more dynamically than expected. 　In addition, cadherin gene abnormalities are associated with autism and other disease sensitivity. I want to observe the dynamics of adhesion related molecules of these synapse in the disease state or medication, hoping that the dynamics may be a new treatment target.

Present specialized field
Neurochemistry/ Neuropharmacology, General Pharmacology (Keyword：synapse, plasticity, adhesion, hippocampus, neural circuit, cadherin)

Teaching achievements

●Other Special Instructions about Teaching Activities

1.	2015/07 ～ 2015/07	SAKURA science PG
2.	2015/06 ～ 2015/06	Lecture at Konan high school
3.	2013/11 ～ 2013/11	Bioethics seminar