Mechanisms underlying beef production system with enduring effects of early-life photoperiod

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06366
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42010:Animal production science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yasuo Shinobu 九州大学, 農学研究院, 教授 (30574719)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 季節 / 日長 / 骨格筋 / 哺乳期 / 成長 / ウシ / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Appropriate management of lighting condition is important in livestock. The present study analyzed effect of postnatal photoperiod on growth and muscle development as well as molecular/epigenetic mechanisms using mice and Japanese Black cows. Gradually increasing photoperiod promoted body weight gain in mice. RNA-seq analysis revealed that expression of hypothalamic genes involved in growth and neuron development were widely altered by postnatal photoperiod. Cows exposed to long-day condition during postnatal period exhibited higher weight of total carcass at slaughter, compared to those exposed to short-day condition. Several modifications of histone proteins were significantly altered by postnatal photoperiod over several years.

Free Research Field

動物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、哺乳期の日長処理による増体促進機序として、単なる刺激応答的な摂食やエネルギー代謝の調節ではなく、生後初期の神経回路リモデリングという長期持続可能な機序の関与を示す初の知見である。さらに、黒毛和種のウシにおいて、哺乳期における光環境の影響が出荷時まで継続し、長期的に枝肉重量やヒストン修飾を調節する可能性を示した。哺乳期の日長情報がエピジェネティックに生体に刷り込まれ、数年スパンの長期的な生体調節を担う可能性を示唆しており、光環境を利用した効率的な生産性向上技術開発への貢献が期待される。