農学部研究紹介英語版2018-2019

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Laboratory of Applied Reproductive Science Ikuo TOMIOKA Assistant Professor Keywords: Animal Reproduction, Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART), Reproductive Technology, Gene Engineering, Neuro Science, Food Science. Our laboratory has the following ongoing projects: 1. Development of novel reproductive techniques relating to in vitro folliculogenesis, IVM/F/C, and ES/iPS cells. 2. Generation of animal models for human disease using transgenic and gene modifying techniques. 3. Discovering the functional food ingredients which have anti-aging effects on somatic stem cells. 1. Development of novel reproductive techniques. In vitro growth of isolated ovarian follicles is an emerging technology for fertility treatment. Novel reproductive techniques will provide solutions for the problem of infertility in human and poor reproductive efficiency in domestic animals. D C Fig. 1. Microscopy with micromanipulator (left) and manipulation of mammalian embryo (right). Fig. 2. Common marmoset (left) and its embryonic stem cells (upper right), induced pluripotent stem cells (lower right). Biotechnology Division 2. Generation of animal models for human disease. In medical research, many kinds of transgenic animals have been produced to model human disease and they provide indispensable tools for studying disease mechanisms and therapies in vivo. 3. Discovering the functional food ingredients. To maintain our health, preventive medicine has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. The one of most important factors in preventive medicine is food environments. Discovering the functional food will contribute to human health. Laboratory of Germ Cell Physiology and Engineering Kanako MOROHAKU, PhD Assistant Professor Key words: Oogenesis, Folliculogenesis, In vitro germ cell culture, Germ cell preservation, Animal reproduction The objective of our laboratory mainly focuses on understanding oogenesis and folliculogenesis in mammalian ovary by generating in vitro culture method for their live imaging system. Backgrounds: In mammals the ovary contains more than 1 million oocytes at the maximum. However only less than 1% of oocytes are ovulated during reproductive period, whereas most of oocytes degenerate in the course of follicle development. The questions are; How are the ovulated oocytes selected during follicle development? What factors are related in follicle growth? Our goals are to make clear these questions and apply our new findings to livestock reproduction and human infertility. Research themes 1. To identify the molecular mechanisms of oocyte development and selection in mammalian ovary using live cell imaging. A B C D B C Histological sections of mouse ovary collected at 10 day after birth. A: Each oocyte is enclosed in single follicle, and oocytes are growing concomitantly with follicle growth. B: Enlarged figure of A. A lot of primordial follicles at the smallest follicle stage exist as a primordial follicle pool (dashed circle). Biotechnology Division 2. To develop a new culture method and chemical defined medium for in vitro ovary and follicle cultures. 3. To identify the molecular mechanisms of embryo implantation and placenta formation. A B Most of oocytes degenerate in the course of development. How are the ovulated oocytes selected? What factors are related in follicle growth? We are going to identify the mechanisms of oogenesis and folliculogenesis using in vitro ovary culture. B 50µm 35