Exploration of tissue stem cells in bovine rumen epithelial and its role in tissue development

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15958
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 42010:Animal production science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Yutaka Suzuki 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 助教 (10793846)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ウシ / ルーメン / 組織発達 / 組織幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The rumen develops rapidly around weaning period in calves, which is induced by short-chain fatty acid and physical stimuli by feed particles in lumen. However, precise mechanism of ruminal development remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore tissue stem cells in the rumen, and also investigate their proliferative ability during the growth of calves. The result showed that the cell population expressing stemness marker of stratified squamous epithelium were specifically observed in stratum balase. Some of these cells expressed cell proliferation markers. The proportion of proliferative cells was higher in suckling calves, compared to weaned calves. To summarize, our data suggested the presence of tissue stem cells in the bovine rumen and its potential contribution to tissue development around weaning period.

Free Research Field

動物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は組織幹細胞という新しい視点を通じてウシの消化機能の根底を担うルーメン組織の成り立ちに迫る初の試みであった。ウシ消化管におけるこのような細胞群の特定は、栄養獲得に重要な消化管の成り立ちに迫る知見であると同時に、研究が開始の途についた非モデル生物における組織幹細胞研究に貢献するものであったと言える。また、作製したルーメン幹細胞の培養技術は、飼料開発における機能性・毒性のプレスクリーニングに容易に応用ができると考えられ、開発過程を効率化する新たな手段として期待される。In vitro実験技術の進展は動物実験の削減につながり、アニマルウェルフェアを考慮した畜産技術の開発への貢献が期待される。