APPW2025

Oranizers :Schuichi Koizumi (Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi) and Misa Arizono (The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research/Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University)

The brain is considered an organ in which neurons connect with each other via synapses to form an enormous neural network. While the mechanisms within neurons are crucial for the construction and function of this vast neural network, the importance of the role played by surrounding non-neuronal cells, known as glial cells, has been increasingly highlighted. Glial cells make contact with synapses and are responsible for the formation and elimination of synapses. During brain development, glial cells also change in their number and contribute to cerebral gyrus formation. In other words, glial cells are increasingly being recognized as key controllers of the brain's morphology and function, spanning from the micro to the macro level. This symposium aims to deepen the understanding of the function of glial cells for brain function and structure at micro- and microscopic levels. To do this, we have four emerging researchers who lead this field and present recent findings with the latest techniques including imaging and manipulation of cellular functions.