Elucidation of Specific Muscle Regeneration Control Mechanisms in Pelvic Floor Muscles for Incontinence Prevention

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19711
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University (2022); Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Yoshioka kiyoshi 京都府立大学, 生命環境科学研究科, 研究員 (10857262)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 筋再生 / 骨盤底筋 / 異所移植

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the characteristics of muscle atrophy and muscle regeneration in the pelvic floor muscles, which are deeply involved in excretory control, with the limb muscles. Using mice subjected to castration, the experiment revealed that the atrophy of the pelvic floor muscles was significantly more pronounced compared to the limb muscles. Additionally, in the heterotopic transplantation experiment of satellite cells, which are muscle tissue stem cells, cells derived from the pelvic floor muscles were only able to form small regenerating muscle fibers in the female and castrated host muscles. These results indicate the importance of considering the characteristics of the source muscle in muscle regeneration therapy.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで骨格筋の萎縮や再生は、身体内の筋を一様なものとして研究がなされていた。よって、骨格筋の萎縮・肥大・筋再生制御に関する知見は、四肢筋を対象とした研究によって明らかにされてきている。しかし、骨盤底筋は性ホルモンの影響を強く受けて発生しており、本研究においても、四肢筋とはことなる制御をうけ、筋量を保っていること、また、筋再生においても性ホルモンの影響を大きく受けるということが明らかとなった。これらの成果は、排泄機能を制御する骨盤底筋の機能維持や効率的な筋再生方法の開発にとって重要な知見となる。