Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

• 乳腺上皮細胞の電解質透過性に関する研究
• オキシトシン誘発性射乳反応の制御機構に関する研究
• 食事性肥満が乳腺発達や乳腺機能に及ぼす影響の解明

動物の臓器、組織、細胞は個体や種の維持のために、様々な生理機能を発揮します。その生理機能の基盤となる精巧な分子メカニズム、とりわけ乳腺組織の発達と機能に関わるメカニズムの解明に貢献すべく基礎研究を行っています。

乳腺は妊娠や出産に伴い、形態と機能をダイナミックに変化させ、泌乳機能を獲得します。ミルクを作り出せるようになるまでの乳腺発達はどのように調節されているのか？また、どのようにしてミルクが生成されているのか？という疑問に、分子生物学的手法や電気生理学的手法などを用いて挑んでいます。大学での基礎研究活動を通して、研究の進め方、論理的な思考法、得られた成果の発表方法などについて学んでいただけるでしょう。興味のある人は、気軽に研究室に話を聞きに来てください。

Mammary gland is a unique tissue that develops only in female mammals after parturition. It exerts its physiological function, lactation, for nursing pups. I have studied the mechanisms of mammary physiology including "mammary gland development", "milk production" and "milk ejection".
In the research of mammary gland development, effects of stromal adipocytes in morphogenesis of mammary ducts and alveoli have been investigated.
In the research of milk production, I have focused on the ion transport via ion channels on the cell membrane, because it has been hypothesized that ion secretion could induce osmotic water secretion and decide the milk quantity and quality. We have already demonstrated the functional expression of some ion channels in the lactating mammary acinar cell.
Recently, I started the research project concerning oxytocin-induced milk ejection. Using the original and novel technique for analyzing the milk ejection in mice, I am trying to uncover the regulatory mechanism of oxytocin-induced milk ejection.
I hope my basic research will provide information for developing the medical and veterinary treatment against lactation-failure and the strategy for improving the productivity in dairy industry.

• Analysis of ion permeability of lactating mammary epithelial cell
• Development of a novel tequnique for analyzing milk ejection reflex in mice.
• Exploration of regulatory factors for oxytocin-induced milk ejection