Laboratory of Germ Cell Physiology and Engineering Kanako MOROHAKU Assistant Professor, Ph.D. 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 34
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