Development of a novel method to assess autonomic nervous system of free-moving animals using electrocardiogram logger

• Project/Area Number: 15K07705
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: OISHI Kazato 京都大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (50452280)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 姫野 友紀子 立命館大学, 生命科学部, 助教 (10534365)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 動物管理・福祉 / 自律神経活動 / 心拍変動 / 加速度 / 自由行動下 / 家畜 / 放牧

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, which is based on the measurement of heart inter-beat intervals, is a widely used technique to assess autonomic nervous regulation in response to various internal or external stressors of animals. However, HRV measurements under free-moving conditions are highly susceptible to subjects’ physical activity levels regardless of stressors. Thus, development of the method to correct for the effect of physical activity on HRV analysis have been required. Therefore, in the present study, the method to measure inter-beat intervals of animals continuously under free-moving conditions was firstly developed, and the method to assess autonomic nervous system balance in freely moving animals by the simultaneous measurements of dynamic body acceleration (DBA) and HRV was then established. Finally, the applicability of the method to various ruminants under several animal production systems was confirmed.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自由行動下の家畜動物に対する心拍変動解析を用いた自律神経活動評価法を確立した本研究は、自由行動下の様々な動物を対象とした多くの生理・生態学分野の研究者にとって学術的に意義のあるものと考えられる。さらに、この方法は様々な飼養条件での家畜に対するストレス・健康評価に適用できると考えられるため、現場の畜産生産者、獣医師に対して有益な方法論を提供することが可能となり、社会的意義があると考えられる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Correcting the Activity-Specific Component of Heart Rate Variability Using Dynamic Body Acceleration Under Free-Moving Conditions (2018)
  • Author(s): Oishi Kazato、Himeno Yukiko、Miwa Masafumi、Anzai Hiroki、Kitajima Kaho、Yasunaka Yudai、Kumagai Hajime、Ieiri Seiji、Hirooka Hiroyuki
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Physiology Volume: 9 Pages: 1063-1063
  • DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01063
  • NAID: 120006534591
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Estimation of the energy expenditure of grazing ruminants by incorporating dynamic body acceleration into a conventional energy requirement system. (2017)
  • Author(s): Miwa, M., Oishi, K., Anzai, H., Kumagai, H., Ieiri, S., and Hirooka, H.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Animal Science Volume: 95 Issue: 2 Pages: 901-909
  • DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016.0749
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Heart rate variability of Japanese Black fattening steers. (2018)
  • Author(s): Kitajima, K., Oishi, K., Kojima, T., Masuda, T., Yasunaka, Y., Sakai, K., Uenishi, S., Kumagai, H., Hirooka, H.
  • Organizer: 18th Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Behavior Classification of grazing goats with 9D-multi sensors and machine learning. (2018)
  • Author(s): Sakai, K., Oishi, K., Miwa, M., Kumagai, H., Hirooka, H.
  • Organizer: 18th Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] A novel procedure combining classified behaviors by direct observations and physical activity quantified by accelerations to assess the behavioral status of fattening steers. (2018)
  • Author(s): Uenishi, S., Oishi, K., Kojima, T., Masuda, T., Sonoda, Y., Kitajima, K., Yasunaka, Y., Sakai, K., Kumagai, H., Hirooka, H.
  • Organizer: 18th Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 暑熱が搾乳牛の心拍変動に及ぼす影響 (2018)
  • Author(s): 北島花歩・大石風人・岩崎方子・山岡俊幸・熊谷元・広岡博之
  • Organizer: 日本畜産学会大124回大会
• [Presentation] Relationship between heat stress and heart rate variability in sheep and goats. (2016)
  • Author(s): Kitajima, K., Oishi, K., Miwa, M., Anzai, H., Setoguchi, A., Kumagai, H., and Hirooka, H.
  • Organizer: The 17th Animal Science Congress, The Asian Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
  • Place of Presentation: Fukuoka, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2016-08-22
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 背部電極配置による自由行動下のウシの心電計測方法の検討 (2016)
  • Author(s): 三輪 雅史・大石 風人・井上 剛・小澤 順・北島 花歩・廣岡 博之.
  • Organizer: 日本畜産学会第121回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 日本獣医生命科学大学（東京都武蔵野市）
  • Year and Date: 2016-03-27
• [Presentation] Evaluation of heart rate variability of grazing cows by simultaneous measurements of RR intervals and body acceleration. (2015)
  • Author(s): Oishi,K., Miwa, M., Yasunaka, Y., Yamada, S., Kitaura, H., Sakai, H., Yamaguchi, K., Himeno, Y., Kumagai, H., Ieiri, S., and Hirooka, H.
  • Organizer: The 49th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology
  • Place of Presentation: Sapporo (Japan)
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-14
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Remarks] 京都大学大学院農学研究科畜産資源学研究室
  • URL: http://www.animprod.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp/