Interaction between nuclear receptors and docosahexaenoic acid concerning the regulation of lipid levels of breast milk

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09976
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: Osaka Medical College
• Principal Investigator: TAKITANI Kimitaka 大阪医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80319540)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 玉井 浩 大阪医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30179874)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 母乳 / 核内受容体 / ドコサヘキサエン酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nutrition of breast-feeding is the most appropriate of all available milks for human infants. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid is main fatty acid contained in cell menbranes of central nerve tissues, and has inportant role for neurological development　during fetus and infant. In the study, we investigated the relationship between docosahexaenoic acid and nuclear receptors siganalling during laction. The present study demonstrataed that docosahexaenoic acid may affect the expression of lipid metabolism related genes regulated by transcriptional nuclear receptors in mammary glands during lactation.

Free Research Field

小児科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ドコサヘキサエン酸は胎児から乳児期における神経発達に重要な役割を果たす。また、母乳中脂質は乳児のエネルギーの維持に非常に重要である。我々は、ドコサヘキサエン酸が授乳期の母乳中脂質濃度調節に関与する否かを検討することで、乳腺組織におけるドコサヘキサエン酸の新たな作用を見いだすかもしれない。また、乳児の母乳栄養に有用な情報を提供することが期待される。