Konno Toshihiro

写真a

Title

Associate Professor

Researcher Number(JSPS Kakenhi)

60568260

Current Affiliation Organization 【 display / non-display

  • Duty   University of the Ryukyus   Faculty of Agriculture   Subtropical Agro-Environmental Sciences   Associate Professor  

  • Concurrently   University of the Ryukyus   Graduate School of Agriculture   Subtropical Agriculture   Associate Professor  

Graduate School 【 display / non-display

  •  
    -
    2000.03

    Tohoku University  Graduate School, Division of Agriculture  Doctor's Course (second term)  Completed

Academic degree 【 display / non-display

  • Tohoku University -  Ph.D.

External Career 【 display / non-display

  • 2012.12
     
     

    University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Subtropical Agro-Environmental Sciences,Associate Professor  

Affiliated academic organizations 【 display / non-display

  • 1900.04
    -
    Now
     

    Society for Reproduction and Development 

Research Interests 【 display / non-display

  • developmental biology

Research Areas 【 display / non-display

  • Others / Others

Research Theme 【 display / non-display

  • Mechanisms regulating trophoblast differentiation

Published Papers 【 display / non-display

  • Melatonin improves the in vitro growth of bovine oocytes collected from early antral follicles by maintaining oocyte-cumulus cell communication.

    Islam MN, Ebara F, Konno T, Tatemoto H, Yamanaka KI

    Reproductive medicine and biology   24 ( 1 ) e12629   2025.01 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

    Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  • Adolescent social isolation disrupts developmental tuning of neuropeptide circuits in the hypothalamus to amygdala regulating social and defensive behavior.

    Arakawa H, Tokashiki M, Higuchi Y, Konno T

    Peptides ( Peptides )  175   171178   2024.05 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

    Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  • The strong anti-hyaluronidase effect of ellagic acid markedly decreases polyspermy during in vitro fertilization, resulting in sustainment of the developmental potency in porcine oocytes.

    Kawasaki K, Hirai M, Ishiki Y, Nagahama A, Konno T, Yamanaka K, Tatemoto H

    Theriogenology ( Theriogenology )  215   95 - 102   2024.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

    Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

     View Summary

    The present study investigated the effects of ellagic acid, a type of polyphenol that does not have a glycan and is composed of four hydroxyl groups and two lactone functional groups, on porcine in vitro fertilization (IVF) by focusing on its anti-hyaluronidase activity. A comparative analysis of ellagic acid and apigenin, which is commonly used as a hyaluronidase inhibitor, was performed. It compared the effects of ellagic acid and apigenin on hyaluronidase activity at different concentrations. The results showed that 10, 20, and 40 μM ellagic acid strongly reduced hyaluronidase activity (P < 0.05). The addition of 20 μM ellagic acid, but not apigenin, to porcine IVF medium effectively reduced polyspermy without decreasing sperm penetration or the formation rates of male pronuclei in cumulus-free oocytes. However, neither ellagic acid nor apigenin affected the number of sperm that bound to zona pellucida (ZP) or the induction of zona hardening and protease resistance. The percentage of acrosome-reacting sperm that bound to the ZP was markedly lower in the presence of 20 μM ellagic acid than in the untreated and apigenin-treated groups, even though the antioxidant capacity of ellagic acid was weaker than that of apigenin. Furthermore, a markedly higher percentage of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in the ellagic acid-treated group, and the apoptotic indexes of expanded blastocysts produced by the ellagic acid treatment during IVF were significantly low. Therefore, the anti-hyaluronidase effect of ellagic acid markedly suppressed the induction of the acrosome reaction in sperm that bound to the ZP, resulting in a marked decrease in polyspermy under conditions that maintained high sperm penetrability during IVF and sustainment of the developmental potency in porcine oocytes.

  • Re-Evaluation of the Cross-Reactions of the Antibody against the Causative Agent for Paracoccidioidomycosis Ceti; Paracoccidioides ceti and the Related Fungal Species.

    Kanegae H, de Souza Suguiura IM, Tashiro R, Konno T, Hou DX, Sano A, Eto T, Ueda K, Hossain MA

    Microorganisms ( Microorganisms )  11 ( 10 )   2023.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

    Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

     View Summary

    Paracoccidioidomycosis ceti (PCM-C) is a chronic granulomatous keloidal dermatitis in cetaceans that has been reported worldwide and is caused by Paracoccidioides ceti. Serological cross-reactions among highly pathogenic fungal infections and related diseases have been reported. However, the true cross-reaction of antibodies against P. ceti has remained unknown due to the use of positive control sera from infected dolphins. This study aimed to re-evaluate antibodies from mechanically dislodged fungal cells in the infected tissue of a PCM-C case and demonstrate the actual cross-reaction. The results revealed a limited cross-reaction between PCM-C and paracoccidioidomycosis, while the antibodies did not react with other pathogens such as Coccidioides posadasii, Histoplasama capsulatum, and Arthrographis kalrae. Thus, the method for evaluation of the antibody against PCM-C is reliable, and there is potential for epidemiological study.

  • Antifreeze protein type III addition to freezing extender comprehensively improves post-thaw sperm properties in Okinawan native Agu pig.

    Masuda Y, Kheawkanha T, Nagahama A, Kawasaki K, Konno T, Yamanaka K, Tatemoto H

    Animal reproduction science ( Animal Reproduction Science )  252   107232 - 107232   2023.05 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

    Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

     View Summary

    Sperm cryopreservation often leads to physical cell damage through ice crystal formation. This study evaluates the improvements to freezing extender cryoprotective activity due to antifreeze protein (AFP) addition, which primarily acts on ice crystal formation, through investigating the post-thaw sperm properties of Okinawan native Agu pig. Six individual boar sperm samples were diluted with the freezing extender supplemented with 1 μg/mL of AFP I or AFP III and then subjected to cryopreservation. Treatment with AFP I during the freezing procedure had no improvement for any characteristics after thawing compared to untreated sperm. In contrast, the addition of AFP III to the freezing extender strongly increased sperm motility, mitochondria and cell membrane integrity, and the acrosomal proteolytic activity of frozen-thawed sperm in 5 of 6 individuals (P < 0.05). Furthermore, cryoinjury prevention by AFP III significantly enhanced sperm viability (by ATP content), and maintained DNA quality and in vitro sperm penetrability compared with AFP I treatment (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that AFP III addition to the freezing extender of boar sperm is more effective in maintaining sperm characteristics than the extender without AFP III or AFP I, despite individual differences in response.

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Presentations 【 display / non-display

  • Localization and characteristics of IL-17F in the mycobacteria-infected lungs

    Masayuki Umemura, Toshihiro Konno, Giichi Takaesu, Goro Matsuzaki

    第53回 日本免疫学会学術集会  (長崎市)  2024.12  -  2024.12 

  • Ovarian estrogen negatively regulates uterine eosinophil distribution during implantation window in mice.

    Tomomi Kurane, Akira Morooka, Toshihiro Konno

    OIST and Univ. Ryukyus Joint Symposium  (Okinawa)  2017.10  -  2017.10 

  • Mural trophectoderm specific activation of adhesion competence in peri-implantation murine blastocyst

    Ichiko Nishi, Fumie Kawase, Tomomi Murane, Keiichiro Ohta, Hideki Tatemoto, Toshihiro Konno

    4th World Congress of Reproductive Biology  (Okinawa)  2017.09  -  2017.09