Mitsuhiro Morita, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Division of Biomolecular Organization, Bioinformation

Research Interests

　Our Research Interest is astrocyte in brain physiology and pathology. One of our approaches is the brain slice physiology to reveal astrocyte mechanism for releasing a neuromodulator, adenosine. Another approach is genetically-modified mice to investigate astrocyte mechanisms underlying cortical regeneration after brain injury.

Research Focus

Neuromodulator, Brain Injury, Reactive Astrocyte, Cortical Regeneration, Neurovascular Coupling

Recent Publication

• Suzuki T, Sakata H, Kato C, Connor JA, Morita M. (2012)
  Astrocyte activation and wound healing in intact-skull mouse after focal brain injury.
  Eur J Neurosci. 36 (12), 3653-3664
• Morita, M. and Kudo Y. (2010).
  Growth factors upregulate astrocyte [Ca(2+)](i) oscillation by increasing SERCA2b expression.
  Glia.58, 1988-1995
• Morita, M., Saruta, C., Kozuka, N., Okubo, Y., Itakura, M., Takahashi, M and Kudo, Y., (2007).
  Dual regulation of astrocyte gap junction hemichannels by growth factors and a pro-inflammatory cytokine via the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.
  Glia 55, 508-515.
• Morita, M., Kozuka, N., Itofusa, R., Yukawa, M., and Kudo, Y. (2005).
  Autocrine activation of EGF receptor promotes oscillation of glutamate-induced calcium increase in astrocytes cultured in rat cerebral cortex.
  J Neurochem 95, 871-879.
• Morita, M., Higuchi, C., Moto, T., Kozuka, N., Susuki, J., Itofusa, R., Yamashita, J., and Kudo, Y. (2003).
  Dual regulation of calcium oscillation in astrocytes by growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.
  J Neurosci 23, 10944-10952.

Contact

Office: Building C, room 110

Tel: +81-78-803-6636 or 6637

Fax: +81-78-803-6636

E-mail: mmorita@boar.kobe-u.ac.jp