Physiological analysis of the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites in oocytes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06627
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44010:Cell biology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Wakai Takuya 岡山大学, 環境生命科学学域, 准教授 (60557768)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 卵母細胞 / ミトコンドリア / 小胞体 / カルシウムシグナル / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is widely known that a limited number of oocytes reach ovulation in a lifetime and that their quality declines with age. Many studies have reported that dysfunction of organelles such as mitochondria is involved in the decline in oocyte quality, but the mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we focused on the contact sites between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and showed that functional linkages between organelles may be disrupted in aging oocytes. The results of this study may contribute to the elucidation of the factors contributing to the decline in oocyte quality and infertility associated with aging.

Free Research Field

動物生殖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年のライフスタイルの変化により、女性の晩婚化・晩産化が進行し、我が国を含む先進国を中心に不妊治療の需要が高まっている。しかし、高齢で出産を希望する時点で、すでに卵母細胞の品質は低下し、体外受精した胚が発生停止する問題が生じている。本研究成果は、受精や胚発生といった生命の始まりを支える卵母細胞の品質を制御するメカニズムの一端を明らかにした。また、本研究で得られた知見から不妊治療への糸口が見出される可能性がある。