Maintenance of trophectoderm in bovine vitrified embryos based on elucidation of regulatory mechanism of early embryonic differentiation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02336
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42010:Animal production science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Kawahara Manabu 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (70468700)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 柳川 洋二郎 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 准教授 (20609656) ; 唄 花子 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 助教 (60775443)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 初期胚発生 / マウス / ウシ / ガラス化保存 / 細胞分化 / 胚盤胞期胚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study showed that the localization of the scaffold protein NF2 plays an important role in regulating the subcellular localization of YAP1, which determines TE cell differentiation in mouse and bovine, and that immersion in hypertonic solution that is a routine part of embryo vitrification procedure alters YAP1 localization. These findings have developmental biological significance in clarifying part of the regulatory mechanism of differentiation of mammalian embryos, indicating that the maintenance of subcellular localization of YAP1 could be impaired by vitrification. These outcomes are expected to contribute to the elucidation of new molecular mechanisms in the regulation of mammalian embryo development and to the refinement of vitrification preservation techniques that contribute to the improvement and proliferation of bovine embryos.

Free Research Field

家畜繁殖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞の極性に伴う細胞分化機構は古くから知られているものの、分子レベルでの理解は進んでいなかった。また正常に分化した初期胚の作製は、主要なウシの繁殖方法の一つである受精卵移植技術の根幹となる発生工学技術でもある。さらに、ウシ生産のために実質的に受精卵移植技術を活用していくためには受精卵の低温下での保存技術の進展が欠かせない。本研究で得られた知見をもとに、哺乳類胚の発生制御における新たな分子機構の解明が進むとともに、ウシ胚改良増殖に不可欠なガラス化保存技術の洗練化につながることが期待される。