We are investigating how the nutrient state of an animal influences the function of various cells, tissues and organs through the autonomic nervous system or an endocrine system. Two topics are ongoing as follow: one is the roles of stromal adipocytes in the mammary gland development, and the other is application of proinsulin C-peptide to medical treatment for the diabetes complications. In the former, we have demonstrated that obese animals accompanied with hypertrophy of adipose tissue disrupt ductal development of the mammary gland in non-pregnant state and delay acinar formation in early pregnant state. In the latter, we recently identified the C-peptide interacting protein present on the cell surface, although the receptor for C-peptide has not been identified yet.

1. Arrangement of educational affairs and their related matters in the graduate school of Veterinary Medicine
2. Promotion of fostering Chemical Hazard Control Expert

1. Okamatsu-Ogura, Y., Nio-Kobayashi, J., Iwanaga, T., Terao, A., Kimura, K. and Saito M. 2011. Possible involvement of uncoupling protein 1 in appetite control by leptin. Exp. Biol. Med. doi:10.1258/ebm.2011.011143
2. Abd Eldaim, M.A., Kamikawa, A., Soliman, M.M., Ahmed, M.M., Okamatsu-Ogura, Y., Terao, A., Miyamoto, T. and Kimura, K. 2010. Retinol binding protein 4 in dairy cows: its presence in colostrum and alteration in plasma during fasting, inflammation, and the peripartum period. J. Dairy Res. 77: 27-32.
3. Nordquist, L., Shimada, K., Ishii, T., Furuya, D.T., Kamikawa, A. and Kimura, K. 2010. Proinsulin C-peptide prevents Type-1 diabetes-induced decrease of renal Na+-K+-ATPase a1-subunit in rats. Diab. Metab. Res. Rev. 26: 193-199.
4. Kamikawa, A., Ichii, O., Yamaji, D., Imao, T., Suzuki, C., Okamatsu-Ogura, Y., Terao, A., Kon, Y. and Kimura, K. 2009. Diet-induced obesity disrupts ductal development in the mammary glands of nonpregnant mice. Dev. Dyn. 238: 1092-1099.
5. Kamikawa, A., Ishii, T., Shimada, K., Makondo, K., Inanami, O., Sakane, N., Yoshida, T., Saito, M. and Kimura, K. 2008. Proinsulin C-peptide abrogates Type-1 diabetes-induced increase of renal endothelial nitric oxide synthase in rats. Diab. Metab. Res. Rev. 24: 331-338.