Effects of Confinement Stress on Homeostasis of the Mammalian Endocrine System and Metabolism – Publicly Invited Research 2016－2017

  1. A01 Akiyama
  2. A01 Ochi
  3. A01 Chatani
  4. A01 Seiki
  5. A01 Nikawa
  6. A01 Kawakami
  7. A01 Tomita
  8. A01 Honda
  1. A02 Shinohara
  2. A02 Maekawa
  3. A02 Ohgami
  4. A02 Nishimura
  5. A02 Kawano
  6. A02 Iwase
  7. A02 Furuichi
  8. A02 Myung
  9. A02 Kitamura
  1. A03 Nakamura
  2. A03 Harada
  3. A03 Ide
  4. A03 Shirai
  5. A03 Kakinuma
  1. B01 Lazarus
  2. B01 Miwa
  3. B01 Kunieda
  4. B01 Shimada
  5. B01 Kitaya
  6. B01 Sawano
Research Subject Effects of Confinement Stress on Homeostasis of the Mammalian Endocrine System and Metabolism
Research Group Leader
Wataru Nishimura
  • Wataru Nishimura
    Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Bio-imaging and Neuro-cell Science, Jichi Medical University
    Website
    http://www.jichi.ac.jp/anatomy/     (*Written in Japanese)

In addition to zero gravity, cosmic radiation and changes in microbial flora, confinement stress is one of the major risk factors for humans to live in space. Aside from living in space, the need for nuclear shelter, occurrence of a natural disaster or engaging in deep-sea exploration could force a long-term stay in an enclosed environment. Our aim is to investigate the effects of confinement stress on the endocrine system and metabolism in mammals. Phenotypes and possible major target organs affected by a long-term stay in an enclosed environment will be clarified using mice, and transcriptome and genome-wide epigenetic analyses of the target organs or cells will be conducted to elucidate the mechanism of effects at the molecular level. Moreover, the effects of confinement stress on development, aging and obesity will also be examined.

We have elucidated the molecular mechanisms critical for maintaining homeostasis of the endocrine system by using various genetically engineered mice. With these research techniques and tools, this study will contribute to comprehensive understanding of the mechanism regulating mammalian homeostasis by investigating metabolic plasticity in response to an extreme environment and its disruption leading to cellular dysfunction.