Investigation of the selective ion transport system of mammary epithelial cells

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22880003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Basic veterinary science/Basic zootechnical science
• Research Institution: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: KAMIKAWA Akihiro 帯広畜産大学, 畜産学部, 助教 (30581665)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Keywords: 乳腺 / イオンチャネル / 上皮細胞 / 電気生理学 / 発達

Research Abstract

It has been suggested that the selective ion transport of mammary epithelial cells play an important role in lactation. However, active ion channels in mammary secretory cells are unknown. To reveal the mechanisms of lactation, we investigated the active ion channels in mammary secretory cells. A whole-cell patch clamp technique was applied to mammary epithelial cells (MEC) freshly isolated from mammary glands of lactating mice. In this study, we found the functional expression of inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels in lactating MEC.