Cervical ripening mechanism in cattle and control of uterine diseases by inducing transient inflammation in the early postpartum period

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02362
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Osawa Takeshi 宮崎大学, 農学部, 教授 (90302059)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐々木 羊介 明治大学, 農学部, 専任准教授 (60704674) ; 北原 豪 宮崎大学, 農学部, 准教授 (90523415)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 牛 / 繁殖 / 分娩 / 子宮頸管熟化 / 炎症性サイトカイン / マクロファージ / コラーゲン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cervical ripening of the cervix must be clarified to prevent calving accidents in cows. In this study, we collected cervical tissue and mucus from cows from late pregnancy to parturition and observed inflammatory responses in order to clarify some aspects of cervical ripening during normal parturition in cows and inflammatory responses in the birth canal after parturition. The results showed that macrophages in the cervical tissue were observed by 6 weeks prepartum, the percentage of type I collagen decreased from 3 weeks prepartum, and various different inflammatory cytokines increased from 3 weeks prepartum in the cervical mucus of cows.

Free Research Field

獣医臨床繁殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、分娩6週前より牛の子宮頸管組織中に浸潤するM1マクロファージがIL-6を産生することで頸管熟化が開始し、頸管粘液中のインターロイキン（IL）-1α、IL-1β、IL-8およびTNFα濃度が増加すること、妊娠末期に増加したIL-8が多形核好中球を動員することで炎症が増強され、熟化が進むことが示唆された。以上より、子宮頸管粘液中サイトカインの動態が長期在胎や難産、頸管熟化不全の診断の一助となる可能性が示された。