Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001 "Research for the Future Program"

The purpose of this project is to establish new approaches regulating reproduction, body growth and metabolism of domestic animals. To this end, we investigated molecular mechanisms of body growth and reproduction mainly by generating several line of transgenic and knockout animal models. The main outcomes of this project are as follows.
1. Expression of 20α-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) gene in the corpus luteum plays a crucial role in recurring short estrous cycle in rodents. 20α-HSD transgenic goats may recur short estrous cycle.
2. Induction of granulin gene expression in neonatal hypothalamus by androgen is involved in sex differentiation of the brain.
3. Continuous secretion of low levels of growth hormone results in the accumulation of body fat. In addition, we found that satellite cells in skeletal muscle could differentiate into adipocytes.
4. Transgenic rats were generated by means of testis-mediated gene transfer (TMGT). Foreign gene could be also transferred by TMGT in the goat, but it was mosaic. We found that the synthetic peptide containing protamine motif could enhance the efficiency of TMGT.
5. DNA methylation pattern varies among tissues. In addition, individual cloned mice have different methylation aberrations, indicating that cloned animals are by no means perfect copies of the original animals as far as the methylation status of genomic DNA is concerned.
6. Primer pheromone is produced in the sebaceous gland of the head of male goats in a testosterone-dependent manner after its conversion to 5α-dihydrotestosterone..
7. IL-1 signal is involved in feeding behavior, body growth and fat accumulation.
8. Facilitation of angiogenesis in follicles could increase the number of ovulated oocytes.

1.Research Institution		The University of Tokyo

2.Research Area		Life Sciences

3.Research Field		Molecular Bioengineering of Food Animal Protein Resources

4.Term of Project		FY 1997 ～ FY 2001

5.Project Number		97L00904

6.Title of Project		Endocrinological and Biotechnological Control of Body Growth and Reproduction in Domestic Animals

Name	Institution,Department	Title of Position
Nishihara, Masugi	The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science	Professor

Names	Institution,Department	Title of Position
Kunio, Shiota	The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science	Professor
Yuji, Mori	The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science	Professor

Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001"Research for the Future Program"

Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001
"Research for the Future Program"