Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO

Poultry Metabolism and Nutrition Unit

The main objective of our research is to determine the effects of dietary bio active substances, contained in self-supplied feed stuffs in Japan and domestic feed resources, on performance, protein and lipid metabolism, and/or biological defense mechanism in meat-type or egg-type chickens. Another objective is to evaluate the effects of dietary these feed stuffs or resources on quality of products, such as chicken meats or eggs. The expected outcomes of our research will contribute to develop product differentiation and new brands in poultry industry.

Even among self-supplied feedstuffs in Japan and domestic feed resources, we focused on whole or brown rice, because of a certain anti-oxidative content, such as α-tocotrienol or γ-oryzanol. We will carry out in vivo or vitro investigations by using nutritional, physiological, biochemical and/or molecular biological techniques to get scientific evidence on our research. In addition, we will make efforts to carry out some field experiments for reconfirmation and to spread our results.

Unit Leader

YAMAZAKI Makoto

Unit Members

Research Publications

  • Ohtsu H, Yamazaki M, Abe H, Murakami H, Toyomizu M (2015) Heat stress modulates cytokine gene expression in the spleen of broiler chickens. Journal Poultry Sci 52(4): 282-287
  • Shimamoto S, Ijiri D, Nakashima K, Kawaguchi M, Ishimaru Y, Furukawa A, Ohtsuka, A (2016) Clenbuterol changes phosphorylated FOXO1 localization and decreases protein degradation in the sartorius muscle of neonatal chicks, Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 80:1499-1504
  • Shimamoto S, Ijiri D, Kawaguchi M, Nakashima K, Ohtsuka A (2016) Gene expression pattern of glucose transporters in the skeletal muscles of newly hatched chicks. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 80: 1382-1385
  • Nakashima K, Ishida A, Ijiri D, Ohtsuka A (2016) Effect of dexamethasone on the expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx in chick skeletal muscle. Anim Sci J 87: 405-410

Centers・Institutes