Smooth muscle cells are major components of the organ walls of organs, such as artery, gastrointestinal tract, bladder and trachea. Smooth muscle cell motility is highly regulated by nerve and hormonal stimuli. Accumulating lines of evidence suggest that impaired smooth muscle motility is involved in a variety of diseases, such as hypertension, digestive dysfunction, asthma, and dysuria. To elucidate the molecular basis of smooth muscle diseases, and to develop their effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, we have been studying the mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle motor function. Meanwhile, we have discovered a protein that regulates smooth muscle contractile function and have elucidated the underlying mechanism by which the protein mediates regulation of smooth muscle motility. We now study the signals in smooth muscle disease.
In parallel with our research on smooth muscle disease, we are assisting in the development of devices and products to improve the quality of life of animals, including pets, and their owners through collaborative research.

It is generally understood that the microvascular system contains arterioles (afferent and resistant vessels), venules (efferent vessels), and capillaries (exchanger vessels). Now we recognize that microcirculation includes not only the microvascular machinery, but also interstitial space fluid dynamics and the lymphatic system. All of vertebrates have to circulate blood into each tissue-cell through the transport mechanisms to supply nutrients and remove wastes. The microcirculatory system is indeed a main player to regulate body fluid homeostasis, which maintains an internal environment of the body, indicating that macro-circulation (heart and large vasculatures) is a support system to pump blood perfusion. Thus, failure of the microcirculatory system evokes dysfunction of activity and survival in tissues-cells and subsequently determines life and death of creatures and humans. That’s why the microcirculation world has never been micro, but huge, space to integrate each cellular function and life support. We continue challenging to explore ‘bench to bedside research’, that is available for preventation, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, through understanding heterogeneity and analyses in the regulation of microcirculatory functions among tissues-cells.

Among infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria, we are studying zoonoses, which are infectious diseases between animals and humans. In recent years, with the increasing distance between animals and humans and the improvement of diagnostic techniques for pathogenic microorganisms, it has become clear that a variety of zoonoses exist in the world and pose a significant threat to us and human society. Our research contributes to the prevention and control of these zoonotic diseases by clarifying how these pathogenic microorganisms are actually maintained in the field and the degree of risk they pose to humans and animals. We also conduct molecular biological studies using actual pathogens and various types of cultured cells to evaluate pathogenicity and elucidate the mechanisms of pathogen transmission.

Blood circulates in our body through various size of blood vessels. Since the blood flow rate is regulated by the vessel diameter, the constriction of the vessels affects the activities of organs. Based on this fact, I am investigating two different blood flow regulation. The first is skin blood flow. We are flushed with hot weather, pale in cold weather. Thus, skin blood flow depends on temperature, and this regulation is different from other vessels. Since reduction in blood flow exacerbates pain, I am investigating the relationship between onset of pain and decrease in blood flow. The second is hepatic blood flow. Hepatic stellate cells are attached to capillaries, so-called sinusoids, that form a network in the liver, and hepatic blood flow is thought that regulated by this cell. However, it is not well known that how the hepatic stellate cell regulates the blood flow. My second subject is to clarify this physiology. During hepatic injury, the hepatic stellate cell will be transdifferentiated to collagen producing cell, which exacerbate inflammation, advance liver fibrosis and impair blood flow. Controlling the transdifferentiation is also an important subject for controlling the regulation of hepatic blood flow.

Parasitic diseases caused by protozoa, helminths, and arthropods have long been recognized as threats to the health of humans and animals. “Parasitism” is defined as a symbiotic relationship between different species where one species (the parasite) benefits while the other species (the host) suffers harm. Although “symbiosis,” where both species benefit, is distinguished from parasitism, in reality, the boundary between parasitism and symbiosis is often blurred. In diverse environments, parasites and hosts interact with each other for survival, and they are also influenced by symbiotic microbiota. Parasitic diseases are a part of this interaction. I explore such complex host-parasite relationships to understand the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases.

When the tumor cells are beyond 42.5 degrees centigrade, the tumor cells become extinct rapidly. The radiofrequency waves gather to the tumor tissue efficiently, and only a tumor can heat. Because only an electromagnetic wave enters from the outside the body, we do not lower the quality of life of the patients. Figure is the abdominal CT image of the dog in which the large tumor rolled up an important blood vessel and widely occupied from abdominal to pelvis cavities. The surgical operation that only this tumor resected was very difficult, and oncothermia treatment (thermal treatment) was performed because owner did not want anticancer drug treatment. The volume of the tumor after about 2 months of oncothermia treatment became small as compared with that of the first day of treatment. Furthermore, the volume of the tumor reduced to about 1/8 after about 8 months of oncothermia treatment. The quality of life of the patient improved, too.
It is known that there is a cytoreductive effect synergistically when the thermal treatment combines with radiotherapy than use alone. My aim put the combination of radiotherapy and oncothermia treatment into practical use in the veterinary clinic.

Our research group is interested in molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release from nerve cells. In the brain, nervous system function is founded on the transmission of information from one nerve cell to another at a unique and highly specialized structure, synapse. This information transfer at the synapse is mediated by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which are stored in small organelles called synaptic vesicles and exocytosed by fusion of synaptic vesicles with plasma membrane. To explore how neurons release transmitters, we combine molecular biological and electrophysiological techniques, especially focusing on protein-protein interactions. We are now trying to examine how the calcium signaling is converted into neurotransmitter release.

In order to realize more safe and more comfortable anesthesia for animals, we are working on research focusing on veterinary anaethesiology and veterinary perianesthesia nursing. In particular, we are actively pursuing studies on α2-adrenergic receptor agonists, which are often used for sedation and analgesia in veterinary medicine. So far we have published the paper regarding the influence of α2-adrenergic receptor agonists on tear production, intraocular pressure, and pupil size, the application to total intravenous anesthesia, and the sedative or anti-anxiety effects by ophthalmic adminstration.
In addition, we are conducting research in cooperation with veterinary nurses about the practice of veterinary perianesthesia nursing such as temperature management under anesthesia and management of anxiety before/after anesthesia.

I am working for epidemiological research on infectious diseases in animals, especially dirofilariasis and ectoparasite infections in dogs and cats, to aim at contribution to prevention. Furthermore, I am working for development of new drugs for animals. And I am also expanding the appropriate use of drugs in animals through pharmacoepidemiological research on usage survey, re-examination of efficacy and incidence of side effects of already-existing drugs.
Photos are a cat flea and a tick. Cat fleas are mundanely detected on dogs as well as cats, and also on humans in recent years in Japan. Ticks have gotten a lot of attention recently as vectors of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). I am working for development of ectoparasiticides.

It is important to elucidate source of contamination of Chlorine-tolerant organisms: Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and fecal indicator bacteria in the source and potable water to ensure the biological water safety. We evaluate the test methods and assess contamination of these organisms in the source and potable water.

Legionella colonizes in water environment and causes human pneumonia. Colonization of Legionella in the cold and hot water supply systems and bathing facilities poses a risk of human infection. We assess the prevalence of Legionella colonization in these facilities, and evaluate control measures to be taken to prevent pneumonia.

　Pet owners are recommended to understand zoonotic infection risk from their pet animals. It is well-known that reptiles frequently harbor pathogenic organisms including Salmonella. We study the prevalence of Salmonella in reptiles to elucidate risk of human infection.

Mastication and swallowing are patterned movements that are essential for the vital activities of animals including humans. These movements require coordinated activity of orofacial muscles, and interneurons in the brainstem control the activity of motor neurons in the orofacial motor system. Among brainstem interneurons, we are focusing on cholinergic interneurons and studying their cell morphology, neural circuits, and neurotransmission. By elucidating the neural circuits between interneurons and motor neurons, we aim to gain knowledge that will lead to an understanding of orofacial movement disorders.
We are also studying the histology of the olfactory organ and its center, the olfactory bulb, of urodele amphibians. By comparing the olfactory system between urodelan species, we are investigating the relationship between the adaptation to water and land environments and the olfactory evolution.

The trematode, Paragonimus westermani is distributed widely throughout the Asia, and has been well-known as one of the important causative agents of helminthic zoonoses, I have been strongly interested in its taxonomy ,ecology and epidemiology and am conducting research work through a steady fieldwork. Especially in recent years, many peaple’s eyes are forcusing on the wild boar’s meat as a “gibier” in order to promote the development of local area. However, many juvenile worms of P. westermani sometimes harbor in the meat through ingesting the second intermediate host, the fresh water crab. Therefore, special attention must be paid to cook and/or preserve the meat. From the parasitological view point, I would like to play a part in risk management of game meats. Besides, I have been guiding the staffs of the national/private university’s laboratory animal facilities at their requests in the extermination of mouse/rat host-specific pinworms and/or protozoa, of which infections are of frequent occurence and do damage to experiment.

One out of two Japanese will be suffering malignant tumor in their lifetime, there to not be an exaggeration to say that national disease. Dogs and cats as well as humans suffer from malignant tumor. I am conducting research with the goal of applying it to the treatment of human malignancies as well as animal malignancies by treating and researching naturally occurring malignancies in animals.

The health effects of transboundary pollution such as Asian dust and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have become a public health problem. We have focused on its constituents such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We are also conducting research on the involvement of oxidative stress in exacerbation of symptoms of bronchial asthma caused by PAH using cultured cells.
The eldery are reported to be more susceptible to the psychiatric effects of earthquake. We are analyzing epidemiological surveys data on the psychiatrioc effects of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake (2007) on the elderly who lived in temporary housing or in areas where damage was severe.
We are investigating the relationship between parabens, which are contained as antibacterial agents in household goods such as shampoos and cosmetics, and allergic diseases. We reported on the association of parabens and allergic disease in population over 40 years of age and in infants. I am participating in a cohort study (lifestyle and health, etc.) that has been ongoing for more than 10 years in Noto, including this study.

Our laboratory has established a technique to examine the composition of the mammary flora by comprehensively analyzing the bacterial DNA (16S rRNA gene) contained in milk. Using this technology, we clarified that the relationship between SCC and mammary flora composition of healty cows (left figure). It has also become clear that there is a possible relationship between the composition of the mammary flora and the amount of the immune substance (lactoferrin) contained in milk (right figure). We are conducting research not only for the development of new treatments for bovine mastitis, but also for the application of new mastitis prevention methods using intramammary innate immunity.　　

Prospective veterinary medicine for farm animals should endeavor to augment productivity by incorporating strategies to combat production maladies, all the while actively contributing to the prevention and containment of infectious diseases. Through a focused emphasis on theriogenology and herd health management, our aim is to undertake research endeavors that elucidate the etiology, mechanisms, and pathogenesis of diseases in both individual animals and populations, with the overarching objective of advancing diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies.

In recent years, the importance of skincare in veterinary medicine has become widely recognized. However, it is known that the epidermis of dogs is much thinner compared to humans. As a result, it remains uncertain whether applying the same skincare practices as humans is appropriate for dogs. In our research laboratory, we are conducting studies on various factors that regulate skin barrier and skin immunity using Beagle dogs and cultured cells. Our goal is to apply the research findings to the field of veterinary clinical practice.

Despite being primarily developed for industrial purposes and not intended for direct human consumption, many chemical substances still come into contact with the human body and organisms in the environment through various pathways, such as water, air, and other environmental factors. Ensuring a safe and secure society requires a thorough evaluation of the toxicity of pharmaceuticals and chemical substances.
In our laboratory, we conduct research on the toxicity of chemical substances through comprehensive gene expression analysis and obtain omics data to elucidate the molecular-level mechanisms, a field known as toxicogenomics. In addition to utilizing omics technology for understanding the inter-organ coordination of energy metabolism in vivo, our research also focuses on elucidating pathological processes in both humans and dogs.

We mainly conduct research related to environmental health. We are working on microorganisms, viruses, contaminants, etc. that exist in water and soil. We also aim to search for useful microorganisms that can contribute to solving environmental problems. We also conduct research using epidemiological and informatic methods.

Changes in the global environments have increased incidence of infectious diseases. Most of these diseases are zoonoses which are transmitted from animals to humans. It is an urgent task to control and prevent of zoonotic disease outbreaks. However, it is not simple and straightforward, since the natural reservoir animals and the transmission routes of the causative agents are not elucidate in all zoonoses. From a glocal perspective, the objective of this project is to forestalling outbreaks of zoonotic infection on the basis of epidemiological investigations in Shikoku.
Host specificity of infectious agents are interested because the mechanism is different for each infectious agent. Adenoviruses are believed to be co-evolved with their specific hosts, and usually infect one particular or several, closely related host species. However, certain bat　adenoviruses exhibited a broad range of in vitro cell tropism. We try to elucidate its host-range determinants.