小脳神経回路の生後発達

Postnatal Development of Cerebellar Neural Circuits

伊藤正男先生は小脳神経回路基盤の解明に多大な貢献をされ，運動学習理論や内部モデル仮説を提唱し，いかにして小脳機能が実現するのかを追究された。本論では，小脳機能の基盤となる神経回路とそれを構成する細胞種について概説する。そして，生後発達の過程で，小脳神経回路がシナプスの形成と刈り込みを通じてどのように形づくられるかを紹介する。抑制性神経細胞やグリア細胞の成熟についても述べる。

Abstract

Prof. Masao Ito contributed greatly to the elucidation of the structure and function of cerebellar neuronal circuits. He formulated a cerebellar motor learning theory and an internal model hypothesis and pursued how complex cerebellar functions resulted from the operation of neural circuits. In this article, we first provide a brief overview of the major cell types and the synaptic organization of cerebellar neural circuits. Then we introduce how mature cerebellar neural circuits are shaped through synapse formation and pruning during postnatal development. We also refer to the maturation of inhibitory neurons and glial cells during postnatal development.