The role of osteocrin in memory formation during early learning, as revealed by visual imprinting in chicks
Tomoharu Nakamori,
Izumi Komatsuzawa,
Umi Iwata,
Ami Makita,
Go Kagiya,
Kazuko Fujitani,
Tetsuya Kitaguchi,
Takashi Tsuboi,
Hiroko Ohki-Hamazaki
Affiliations
Tomoharu Nakamori
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan; Corresponding author
Izumi Komatsuzawa
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
Umi Iwata
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
Ami Makita
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
Go Kagiya
School of Allied Health Sciences, and Regenerative Medicine and Cell Design Research Facility, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
Kazuko Fujitani
Gene Analysis Center, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
Tetsuya Kitaguchi
Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
Takashi Tsuboi
Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
Hiroko Ohki-Hamazaki
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan; Corresponding author
Summary: Osteocrin (OSTN) is structurally associated with natriuretic peptides. Its expression in the brain, which has only been recognized in anthropoid primates, is induced by sensory stimuli and regulates the activity-dependent dendritic growth of neurons. However, details on the signaling mechanisms of OSTN and its function in plastic changes during learning and memory have yet to be elucidated. We found that OSTN was expressed in the cortical region of the chicken brain. The injection of chicken OSTN (chOSTN) after imprinting training prolonged the memory retention for the imprinting stimulus. Conversely, a reduction in the OSTN receptor chNPR3 inhibited memory retention. The memory retention was positively correlated with a high level of chOSTN and fewer neurites in the cortical region. In conclusion, OSTN-NPR3 signaling promoted memory consolidation and/or retention by regulating neurite branching during childhood.
