Identification of transcription factors related to mouse ovarian differentiation and construction of transcription network

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K21664
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied molecular and cellular biology; General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science (2017-2018); National Center for Child Health and Development (2016)
• Principal Investigator: KATO Tomoko 公益財団法人東京都医学総合研究所, 生体分子先端研究分野, 研究員 (10638802)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 性分化 / 卵巣 / ノックアウトマウス / 機能解析 / ゲノム編集

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The key genes involved in fetal mouse ovarian development and molecular mechanism through ovarian differentiation are almost unknown because the ovarian structure is poor during these stages. In this study, we tested to identify the cell type of 18 candidate genes involved in ovarian differentiation by using in situ hybridization and immunostaining. In addition, we generated 18 ovarian genes knock out mice to clarify their functions.

Free Research Field

性分化

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

哺乳類の生殖腺分化過程において、精巣分化過程における分子メカニズムは徐々に明らかになってきているが、卵巣分化過程における分子メカニズムは未だ不明な点が多い、しかし、近年、卵巣分化を引き起こす重要な遺伝子の存在が指摘されてきており、これらの遺伝子は卵巣・卵子の質の低下、及び妊孕性の低下に大きく関わる可能性がある。これらの問題は、女性の社会進出と共に問題視されている高齢出産の壁を解決する糸口となり得ることが期待される。