Physiological role of anti-angiogenic factor thrombospondin in the regulation of endometrial function during early pregnancy in cattle

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06385
• 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: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Hayashi Kengo 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 畜産研究部門, 主任研究員 (70563625)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ウシ / 子宮内膜 / トロンボスポンジン / 妊娠 / 受胎性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on thrombospondin (TSP), a secreted extracellular matrix protein that plays a major role as a potent angiogenic inhibitor, and aimed to investigate the physiological role of TSP in the regulation of endometrial function during early pregnancy and repeat breeding in cattle. The results demonstrate that TSP may be involved in endometrial tissue remodeling associated with implantation and placental development by interact between the trophoblast and endometrium. In addition, this study showed that repeat breeder cows have a higher expression of both ligands and receptors for TSP and a reduced vascular distribution in the endometrium compared to non-repeat breeder cows, suggesting that the establishment of appropriate endometrial vasculature may be closely associated with fertility in cows due to altered uterine function.

Free Research Field

家畜繁殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、雌牛の受胎機構において、主要な血管新生抑制因子であるトロンボスポンジン（TSP）による子宮内膜血管系の制御および着床に伴う組織再構築の調節因子としての関与という新たな概念が裏付けられた。さらに、子宮内膜におけるTSPの発現動態が長期不受胎牛を摘発するための新たな指標として有用である可能性が示され、TSPを指標とした子宮内膜機能の評価による受胎性の評価法や長期不受胎化の予察法等、雌牛の生産効率改善に資する技術の開発のための基盤的知見を提供する。