Basic study on sensory sensitivity modulation associated with pregnancy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09625
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Matsuda Ken-ichi 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (40315932)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 悪阻 / つわり / 感覚 / 女性ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Alterations in the senses of smell and taste during pregnancy are associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. The mechanism of this sensory variability has not been clarified, but it may be due to the marked changes in the hormonal milieu associated with pregnancy. However, it is unclear which brain regions specifically are affected by hormones and what changes cause these sensory alterations. In this study, we identified brain regions in which activity in response to olfactory and taste stimuli increases during pregnancy. It was found that the number of dendritic spines increases during pregnancy in the piriform cortex and posterolateral cortical nucleus of the amygdala. It was also shown that the number of neurons expressing estrogen receptor α significantly decreases during pregnancy in the piriform cortex, posterolateral cortical nucleus of the amygdala, central nucleus and basolateral nucleus.

Free Research Field

神経内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

悪阻（つわり）は妊婦に対し身体的・精神的苦痛を与え、重篤な場合には入院加療が必要となる。したがって、悪阻のメカニズム究明と予防・改善法の確立が極めて重要であると考えられるが、原因について具体的メカニズムは明らかにされておらず、また、治療に関しても栄養の補給などの対症療法にとどまる。本研究は、悪阻といった、一般に広く知られてが、これまでにその本体が不明であった現象の解明を行う有意義な計画であり、本研究により導き出される結果は、妊婦の感覚変調に有効な対処手段を追求する上で重要な基礎的知見を供出すると考えられる。