Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences

Department

Professor Hiroshi Katsuki
Associate Professor Yoichiro Isohama
Assistant Professor Akinori Hisatsune

Research themes

[Names and Summaries of Research Projects]

  1. I. Research of the Pathological Mechanisms of Central Nervous Degenerative Disease and the Effects of Neuroprotective Agents
    1. Research of Degenerative Diseases of the Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Orexin
    2. Analysis of the Pathological Mechanisms of Cerebral Hemorrhages and Exploration of Protective Agents
    3. Analysis of the Mutational Mechanisms of Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neutrons and Exploration of Protective Agents
    4. Research of Brain Disease Control Mechanisms Using Microglia
    5. Research of Intracellular Protein Degradation Systems Related to Neurodegenerative Disease
  2. II. Research of the Pathological Mechanisms of Sialidase
    1. Research of the Role of Sialidase in Pathological Disease Formation of Neurodegeneration
    2. Research of the Role of Sialidase in Inflammatory Response Control

Our primary focus is the development of pharmacological research related to central nervous system diseases. Using cultures of brain tissue sections and genetically modified mice, we have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms for selective mutation of the hypothalamic neuropeptide orexin, a major factor in narcolepsy, on the cellular and molecular level. Using mainly animal pathology models for the brain tissue injuries that often accompany cerebral hemorrhages, we have uncovered the relationship between the pathological mechanisms and motility disturbance, while investigating candidate molecules which may lead to new methods of treatment and analyzing the active mechanisms of candidate therapeutic compounds. Furthermore, we have made advances in the functional analysis of molecules which can induce or suppress the degeneration of certain neurons, which is related to Parkinson's disease and spinocerebellar degeneration, and the action analysis of low molecular weight compounds with neuroprotective attributes, such as retinoids.