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| 4. Neurotransmitters are common to all creatures on earth |
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KOBAYASHI: Even though you are working in an extremely microscopic field, namely neurotransmission mechanism in the peripheral nervous system, I wonder if your research has even given you the thrilling sensation of having gained deeper or wider insight into living creatures? MOCHIDA: Well, let me think. Yes, it is actually a lot of fun to experiment on animals of a lower order. Take Aplysia, for example, which is of a very primitive order. When you open up its body, you see a mouth sticking out, which is connected to a digestive organ. The rest is the nervous system, which, again, consists of just simple parts such as a central nerve, a nerve activating the central nerve and a nerve activating the mouth, or gill. Very primitive. But in researching such primitive nerves, you come to an understanding of how human nerves might operate. KOBAYASHI: From the viewpoint of evolutionary history, is there a major difference in neurotransmitters between humans and non-humans? MOCHIDA: As far as neurotransmitters are concerned, both use more or less the same substances, from animals of lower orders up to humans. For instance, insects also use glutamate as a neurotransmitter, and so does the squid. KOBAYASHI: Is that so! Do you mean that evolutionary development has nothing to do with it? MOCHIDA: It doesn't seem so. KOBAYASHI: The domain of your research encompasses a considerably wide range, doesn't it? So what is the ultimate goal of your research? MOCHIDA: For the time being, as long as the release mechanism of neurotransmitters at the synapse remains to be elucidated completely, I wish to pursue that goal to the very end. Who knows, I may not be able to reach it, but that is a challenge I enjoy. KOBAYASHI: Good for you! Well, thank you very much for sharing your story with me today. MOCHIDA: It is my part to thank you. |