The yolk sac membrane's role in regulating chick embryo blood glucose

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06444
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Iwasawa Atsushi 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (90242742)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ニワトリ / 卵黄嚢 / 糖新生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Birds are markedly hyperglycemic compared to other animal groups. This study investigated how the chick embryo maintains high blood glucose levels using the limited resources of the egg. In the chick embryo, glyconeogenesis occurs in the yolk sac membrane. In response to changes in oxygen availability in the embryo, lactate or glycerol is used as a raw material for glyconeogenesis. The yolk sac membrane is the organ that releases glucose produced by glyconeogenesis into the blood, contributing to the increase in blood glucose levels. On the other hand, glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the yolk sac membrane until late in the incubation period, and just before hatching, glycogen is reconverted to glucose and released into the blood in large amounts to meet the enormous energy demand associated with hatching.

Free Research Field

動物生理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

鳥類の胚期を通じて糖代謝酵素や代謝産物を継続的に測定した初めての研究であり，派生するさまざまな研究課題を提供する結果が得られた。鳥類は高血糖でありながら長寿を維持できる動物群であり，これらの研究を通じてヒトの健康寿命の延伸にも寄与しうる。