Sport Science

In recent years, the pieces of evidence that exercise has important roles in keeping healthy have been reported by various analytical methods in physiology, biochemistry, and histology. Our Laboratory aims to propose a new integrated medicine by establishing efficient exercise therapy with exercise and “something extra”. We are conducting research on the following three themes using sources such as “bioactive peptides”, “aromatherapy”, and “supplements” as “something extra”.

1. Functional morphological analysis of the physiological effects of exercise and nasal administration of bioactive peptides: We aim to develop a new exercise therapy for the elimination of obesity. We combined exercise with intranasal administration of Galanin-Like Peptide (GALP), one of the eating-related peptides, and we investigated its effect using mice. In addition, with an aim of preventing and improving dementia, the combination of pituitary adenylates cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), which is involved in nerve regeneration, and exercise, will promote neuronal regeneration in the hippocampus. We are verifying its action from histological and behavioral analysis.
2. Evidence building at the molecular level for the establishment of medical aromatherapy: Essential oils used in aromatherapy have been found to have various pharmacological effects, including anti-stress, antibacterial, antidepressant, and pain relief. In recent years, it has been introduced as “medical aromatherapy” in the medical field. However, there is little scientific verification of its effectiveness. Therefore, in our Laboratory, we are verifying various effects of essential oils in cultured cells, animals, and humans, aiming to build evidence for the establishment of medical aromatherapy.
3. Molecular basis for the health-promoting effects of combined exercise and aromatherapy: In recent years, aromatherapy using essential oils has been performed at sports sites, and using “sports aromas”, athletes are expected to recover from mental and physical fatigue and improve performance in sports, which is attracting attention. Therefore, we are verifying the effects of aromatic baths after exercise exhaustion from the secretion of various hormones in humans and animals. In addition, we use a mouse myoblast cell line called the “in vitro exercise model” to analyze the effects of essential oil treatment by changes in myokine secretion and gene expression through DNA array analysis.