Search for novel ovarian factors that dominantly regulate ovulation number

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Matsuda Fuko 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (10608855)
• Research Collaborator: OHKURA satoshi ; MAEDA kei-ichiro
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 獣医学 / 畜産学 / 応用動物 / 細胞・組織

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The ovulation number is strictly controlled depending on species in mammals, but the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, I performed transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) using bovine ovarian granulosa cells to search for the factors that dominantly regulate ovulation number. As a result, I identified more than 500 genes which expression levels are significantly different between granulosa cells of dominant follicles (the biggest follicle that will be ovulated) and subordinate follicles (the second biggest follicle that will not be ovulated). I choose 3 factors as candidate factors that regulate ovulation number and performed detailed morphological analysis confirming similar results with the RNA-seq analysis.

Free Research Field

獣医繁殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では排卵数の決定に関わる可能性がある複数の因子を同定することに成功した。これらの因子の機能を促進あるいは抑制することで、家畜やヒトの排卵数を任意に調節できるようになる可能性がある。それによって、双子の出産が問題となるウシでは双胎の回避、ブタでは産子数を増やすことによる生産効率向上、卵巣機能障害を持つ家畜やヒトにおいてはその治療などへの応用が可能となり、獣医畜産・医療分野へ大きく貢献することが期待される。