Professor Toshiki Yagi of the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hiroshima University and Associate Professor Masayoshi Nishiyama of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Kinki University applied high water pressure comparable to that of the deep sea to cells that became immobile due to defects in the unicellular organism Cramido Monas, which is a unicellular organism that moves with flagella (* 1). After that, I found out that it started to move.Professor Yagi and his colleagues believe that it can be applied to medical treatment such as human infertility treatment.
According to Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Chlamydomonas swims in the water with flagella, similar to human sperm.When Chlamydomonas, which had a defect in its flagella and could not swim, was subjected to water pressure of 6,000 meters in the deep sea, it was confirmed that it started to swim.This microscope that applies high water pressure was developed by Associate Professor Nishiyama, and Professor Yagi used it to supervise the research.
Immobility of the flagella in the human body causes a variety of disorders.Flagella of sperm can cause infertility, trachea can cause chronic bronchitis, and cerebrum can cause hydrocephalus.Since human flagella move by almost the same mechanism as Chlamydomonas, Professor Yagi et al. Seem that if the medical application of regaining movement by water pressure can be applied to solve infertility.
The professors will continue to pursue joint research and aim to develop new medical technologies.
Paper information:[Scientific Reports] High hydrostatic pressure induces vigorous flagellar beating in Chlamydomonas non-motile mutants lacking the central apparatus
