Central mechanism regulating reproduction in mammals under heat stress

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42010:Animal production science-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Uenoyama Yoshihisa 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 准教授 (70324382)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平林 真澄 生理学研究所, 行動・代謝分子解析センター, 准教授 (20353435) ; 中村 翔 名古屋大学, アジアサテライトキャンパス学院(農), 特任准教授 (50829223) ; 井上 直子 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 准教授 (90377789) ; 森田 康広 帯広畜産大学, 畜産学部, 准教授 (90818262)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 暑熱ストレス / 繁殖成績 / ウシ / ラット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to elucidate the brain mechanism that decreased reproductive performance in mammals under heat stress and to accumulate knowledge to overcome the decline in livestock productivity. To this end, the central mechanisms suppressing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion by undernutrition and lactation were investigated using rats as an animal model. The results showed that kisspeptin neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus serve as the GnRH pulse generator, which controls the follicular development in female mammals, and that central endogenous opioid peptides mediate the suppression of GnRH/LH secretion by undernutrition and lactation.

Free Research Field

家畜繁殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

50年来の謎であった性腺刺激ホルモン放出ホルモン (GnRH) のパルス分泌を制御するGnRHパルス発生機構の本体にを明らかにしたという学術的な意義に加え、夏季の猛暑下における家畜の繁殖障害を克服に資する知見を集積し、内因性オピオイドペプチドの拮抗剤が新規な家畜の繁殖促進剤のシーズとなるという社会的に大きな意義をもつ成果を得た。