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Livestock Biological Function Lab
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A lab that explores how livestock bodies work, from the molecular level to the whole animal.
AboutAbout the lab
Studying animal bodies to support the future of food
The Livestock Biological Function Lab studies how the bodies of livestock and poultry work, from the molecular level to the whole-animal level.
Its work includes skeletal muscle development and meat quality, analysis of reproductive function using organoid culture, and the use of unused protein resources through improved rearing environments.
The lab aims to realize sustainable livestock farming that also takes animal welfare and the environment into account.
Because it was formerly called the "Second Laboratory of Animal Science," it is affectionately known within the university by the nickname "Chikuni."
Key terms
- Mesenchymal progenitor cells
- Cells in the interstitium of skeletal muscle that can differentiate into myofibroblasts and adipocytes.
- Glycans
- Molecules in which sugars are linked in chains. Glycan modification can influence the differentiation fate of cells.
- Organoids
- Small tissues (mini-organs) made by culturing cells in three dimensions outside the body, mimicking the functions of an organ.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies the biological functions of livestock and poultry from the molecular level to the whole-animal level, through analysis of the actions of hormones and glycans, organoid culture, and other approaches. It also places importance on animal welfare and the environment, and aims to build up knowledge and technologies that lead to sustainable livestock farming.
*Illustrative imageThe role of stromal cells in supporting skeletal muscle
The lab studies how muscle tissue is maintained, focusing on the mesenchymal progenitor cells in the interstitium of skeletal muscle. Focusing on glycan modification as a regulatory factor that determines cell differentiation fate, it is developing methods to improve the quality and quantity of skeletal muscle.
*Illustrative imageExploring the uterus and skeletal muscle with organoids
Using organoids, three-dimensional cultures of uterine cells grown outside the body, the lab reproduces conditions inside the body by varying factors such as temperature and hormones, and investigates at the molecular level why the conception rate of cows drops in summer. It is also developing skeletal muscle organoids.
*Illustrative imageToward solving the problem of male chicks
Male chicks of egg-laying hens are culled right after hatching. The lab aims to put them to effective use by studying how applying immunocastration agents to poultry and managing the rearing environment to lengthen dark periods affect growth and meat quality.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Livestock Biological Function Lab are faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and research students.As of 2026
- ProfessorYoshinao Hosaka
- Associate ProfessorShotaro Nishimura
- Assistant ProfessorShiro Egawa
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “2025 Michigan State Fair August 2025 08 (Beef Cattle)” Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The role of stromal cells in supporting skeletal muscle: “Skeletal Muscle Tissue” Community College Bioscience / CC0 (cropped)
- Exploring the uterus and skeletal muscle with organoids: “Organoid (NIH BioArt )” Courtesy of NIAID Ryan Kissinger / Public domain (cropped)
- Toward solving the problem of male chicks: “Day old chicks in the Philippines 03” LubGua987 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab
(動物学): “IVF laboratory” Galina Fomina / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (畜産化学): “Muscle Tissue Skeletal Muscle Fibers ( )” Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森林化学): “Conifer resin from Agathis lanceolata (New Caledonia, southwestern Pacific Basin) )” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (水産生物環境学): “Red algae bloom, Boathaven Bay, Airlie Beach IMGP0273” John Robert McPherson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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