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Neuropharmacology Lab
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The lab investigates the mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness, and therapeutic drugs for them, through histamine and neuropeptides in the brain.
AboutAbout the lab
Taking on drug discovery through neuropharmacology research
The Neuropharmacology Lab studies the mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness and therapeutic drugs for them, focusing on histamine and neuropeptides that act in the brain.
The lab develops drugs that inhibit the enzyme that breaks down histamine, aiming to lead to new treatments for hypersomnia and other conditions.
It also studies the role of glycans in bodily functions. In the Faculty of Medicine's School of Medicine, the lab is in charge of the lectures and practical training in pharmacology for third-year students.
Key terms
- Neurotransmitter
- A general term for substances that pass information between nerve cells
- Narcolepsy
- A type of hypersomnia in which sudden, irresistible sleepiness occurs during daytime activity
- Neuropeptide
- A neurotransmitter made of short chains of amino acids. It is involved in regulating sleep, body temperature, appetite, and more
NewsLab news
An undergraduate student won the Outstanding Graduation Research Award of the Division of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Lecturer Naganuma was selected for the School of Medicine's 'Excellent Teacher (Excellence Award)'
A doctoral student and an undergraduate student won Outstanding Presentation Awards at the Hokkaido Drug Action Discussion Meeting
A doctoral student won an Excellence Award in the poster presentation at the Akiyama Foundation 40th Anniversary event
A doctoral student's presentation was selected as an outstanding abstract at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists
ResearchResearch themes
Focusing on histamine and neuropeptides, which are neurotransmitters in the brain, the lab investigates how sleep and wakefulness are regulated, aiming to lead to the development of treatments for hypersomnia and other disorders. It also studies the roles that glycans play in bodily functions.
*Illustrative imageBrain Histamine and Treatments for Hypersomnia
Histamine in the brain is a neurotransmitter involved in wakefulness, learning, and memory. Together with another university, the lab has developed a drug that inhibits HNMT, the enzyme that breaks down histamine, and aims to use it to treat narcolepsy. Using genetic manipulation and optogenetics, it also investigates the histamine neuron system as a whole.
*Illustrative imageNeuropeptides and Sleep and Wakefulness
Focusing on neuropeptides such as neurotensin, galanin, and melanin-concentrating hormone, the lab searches for new mechanisms that regulate sleep and wakefulness. It aims to apply the findings to the treatment of insomnia, hypersomnia, and neurodegenerative diseases.
*Illustrative imageThe Glycan Heparan Sulfate and Organ Function
Using mice, the lab studies how heparan sulfate, a glycan on the cell surface, affects the function of organs such as the pancreas, adipose tissue, and muscle. In collaboration with a research institute in the US, it tests whether increasing heparan sulfate enhances organ function, aiming to lead to drug discovery.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Neuropharmacology Lab consist of faculty, administrative assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakeo Yoshikawa
- LecturerFumito Naganuma
- Assistant ProfessorKyosuke Hirano
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Diphenhydramine 3D 2aot” Fvasconcellos (talk · contribs) / Public domain (cropped)
- Brain Histamine and Treatments for Hypersomnia: “Histamine 3D ball” Jynto (talk) / CC0 (cropped)
- Neuropeptides and Sleep and Wakefulness: “Hypothalamus image” Images are generated by Life Science Databases(LSDB). / CC BY-SA 2.1 jp (cropped)
- The Glycan Heparan Sulfate and Organ Function: “Heparan sulfate” Hsa2011 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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- Related lab (細胞生理学): “FPbeachTsien” Nathan Shaner / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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