Research Topics

Inside an animal’s body, all the functions work very delicately with the involvement of each other. This system maintains animal health. Towards the elucidation of the physiological mechanism of these animals, we have conducted research using model animals or birds.

Studies on the sexual differentiation of birds

The sex of animals, including birds, has been determined by the genes. However, with respect to sexual differentiation of the brain and the gonads, it is determined by steroid hormones. Because the sex chromosomes of birds (ZW type) are different from mammals (XY type), the sexual differentiation mechanism of birds is different in many ways, such as the participation of these hormones are known but the details are still unknown. Therefore, regarding the reproductive glands and sexual differentiation and development of the brain, we are conducting research on the role of steroid hormones in particular.

Study of the water-electrolyte metabolism regulatory mechanism of birds

Water-electrolyte metabolism regulation is a homeostatic regulatory mechanism and basically important in an animal. The water and electrolyte metabolism regulation of birds is similar to mammals, although there are also several different points. We are conducting research focused on renal function in particular.

Studies on the pathophysiological mechanisms of parasitic diseases

We are exposed to infectious diseases. We need to develop cheaper, more effective, and safer ways to control infectious diseases because these incur a heavy economic loss. One of the problems is that we have a little information on the diseases. We are conducting research on the pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms of both avian coccidia and zoonotic parasites such as leishmaniasis.

Studies on the bursal secretory dendritic cell in bursa of fabricius

The bursal secretory dendritic cell (BSDC) was observed in the bursa of fabricius of poultry. Nobody knows the character and function of BSDC in the bursa. Our research is to determine the function and cell markers of BSDC.

Studies on the physiological effects of food ingredients

Food ingredients have important impact on our health. However, we have a limited knowledge of them scientifically. We are conducting research on the physiological effects of food ingredients on human and animal health.

Publication List

• 1. Sugita S, Yamato M, Hatabu T, Kataoka Y. (2021) Involvement of cancer-derived EMT cells in the accumulation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in the hypoxic cancer microenvironment. Sci Rep 11:9668 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88414-1.
• 2. Hrabia A, Socha JK, Saito N, Grzesiak M, Sechman A. (2020) Aquaporin 4 in the chicken oviduct during a pause in laying induced by food deprivation, Comptes Rendus Biologies, 343, 89-99.
• 3. Matsubayashi M, Shibahara T, Matsuo T, Hatabu T, Sasai K, Isobe T. (2020) Morphological and molecular identification of Eimeria spp. in breeding chicken farms of Japan. J Vet Med Sci. doi: 10.1292/jvms.19-0661.
• 4. Ho DT, Hatabu T, Sunada Y, Kondo Y. (2020) Oral administration of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55 modulates the immunological parameters of the laying hen inoculated with a Newcastle disease virus-based live attenuated vaccine. Biosci Microb Food Health 39, 117-122, doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2019-033.
• 5. Hatabu T, Harada T, Takao Y, Thi DH, Yamasato A, Horiuchi T, Mochizuki A, Kondo Y. (2020) Daily meal supplemented with astaxanthin-enriched yolk has mitigative effects against hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 43, 404-8, doi: 10.1248/bpb.b19-01013
• 6. Wang Y., Hatabu T. (2019) Mulberry juice freeze-dried powder attenuates the disease severity by the maintaining of colon mucosa in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 83 (5): 914-922. doi: 10.1080/09168451. 2019.1580135.
• 7. Socha JK, Saito N, Wolak D, Sechman A, Hrabia A. (2018) Expression of aquaporin 4 in the chicken oviduct following tamoxifen treatment. Reproduction of domestic Animal, 53, 1339-1346.
• 8. Saito N, Hirayama H, Yoshimura K, Atsumi Y, Mizutani M, Kinoshita K, Fujiwara A, Namikawa T. (2017) The muscular dystrophic chicken is hypernatremic, British Poultry Science, 58, 506-511.
• 9. Aste N, Yoshioka N, Sakamoto E, Saito N. (2016) Female-biased sex difference in vasotocin-immunoreactive neural structures in the developing quail brain. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 77, 41–54.