Research Projects

• Immunohistochemical Studies on cystic follicle formation in the cows to prevent and treat it.
• Development of enzyme immunoassay system for progesterone, estradiol and estrone sulfate in plasma, milk and feces from domestic and wild animals
• Development of early pregnancy test in the sow using enzyme immunoassay of fecal estrone sulfate

Academic Publications (earlier than 2005)

1. Maniwa J, Izumi S, Isobe N, Terada T. (2005)Studies on substantially increased proteins in follicular fluid of bovine ovarian follicular cysts using 2-D PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 3: 23 [Epub ahead of print]
2. Feranil JB, Isobe N, Nakao T (2005) Expression of gap junction protein connexin 43 during follicular atresia in swamp buffalo ovary. J Reprod Dev 51: 675-681. J stage
3. Feranil JB, Isobe N, Nakao T (2005) Immunolocalization of von Willebrand factor and vascular endothelial growth factor during follicular atresia in the swamp buffalo ovary. J Reprod Dev 51: 419-426. J stage
4. Isobe N, Kitabayashi M and Yoshimura Y: Microvascular distribution and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in bovine cystic follicles. Domest Anim Endocrinol 29: 634-645. Article
5. Isobe N, Akita M, Nakao T, Yamashiro H, Kubota H Pregnancy diagnosis based on the fecal progesterone concentration in beef and dairy heifers and beef cows. Anim Reprod Sci 90: 211-218
6. Feranil JB, Isobe N and Nakao T Apoptosis in the antral follicles of swamp buffalo ovary: TUNEL and caspase-3 histochemistry. Reprod Domest Anim 40: 111-116.
7. Isobe N, Nakao T Direct enzyme immunoassay of fecal estrone derivatives in dairy cows. Anim Sci J 76:203-207
8. Isobe N, Nakao T, Yamashiro H, Shimada M Enzyme immunoassay of progesterone in the feces from beef cattle to monitor the ovarian cycle . Anim Reprod Sci 87:1-10
9. Yamashita Y, Nishibori M, Terada T, Isobe N, Shimada M (2005) Gonadotropin-induced delta 14-reductase and delta 7-reductase gene expression in cumulus cells during meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes. Endocrinology 146: 186-194
10. Feranil JB, Isobe N, Nakao T (2004) Cell proliferation in the atretic follicles of buffalo and cattle ovaries. Reprod Domest Anim 39:405-409
11. Feranil JB, Isobe N, Nakao T (2004) Changes in the thecal vasculature during follicular atresia in the ovary of swamp buffalo. J Reprod Dev 50: 315-321
12. Isobe N, Yoshimura T, Yoshida C, Nakao T (2004) Incidence of silent ovulation in dairy cows during postpartum period. Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift (German Veterinary Journal) 111: 35-38
13. Isobe N, Nakao T (2004) Pregnancy diagnosis in miniature pig by direct ELISA of estrone derivatives in feces. Reprod Domest Anim 39: 48-51
14. Ghanem M, Yoshida C, Isobe N, Nakao T, Yamashiro H, Kubota H, Miyake Y, Nakada K (2004) Atresia ani with diphallus and separate scrota in a calf: a case report. Theriogenology 61: 1205-1213
15. Yamada K, Nakao T and Isobe N (2003) Effects of Body Condition Score in Cows Peripartum on the Onset of Postpartum Ovarian Cyclicity and Conception Rates after Ovulation Synchronization / Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination. J Reprod Dev 49: 381-388.
16. Isobe N, Nakao T, Uehara O, Yamashiro H, Kubota H (2003) Plasma concentration of estrone sulfate during pregnancy in different breed of Japanese beef cattle. J Reprod Dev 49: 369-374.
17. Shimada M, Ito J, Yamashita Y, Okazaki T and Isobe N (2003) PI 3-kinase in cumulus cells is responsible for both suppression of spontaneous maturation and induction of gonadotropin-stimulated maturation of porcine oocytes. J Endocrinol 179: 25-34.
18. Isobe N, Nakao T, Yoshimura Y (2003) Distribution of cytochrome P450-side chain cleavage in the theca interna layers of bovine small antral and cystic follicles. Reprod Domest Anim 38: 405-409.
19. Isobe N and Shimada M (2003) Effects of estrone sulfate injection on reproductive functions in male Japanese quail. J. Poult. Sci. 40: 247-253.
20. Isobe N, Nakao T (2003) Direct enzyme immunoassay of progesterone in bovine plasma. Anim. Sci. J. 74: 369-373.
21. Isobe N, Nakao T, Yoshimura Y (2003) Immunohistochemical localization of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the granulosa and theca interna layers of bovine cystic follicles. J. Reprod. Dev. 49: 227-233
22. Shimada M, Nishibori M, Isobe N, Kawano N and Terada T (2003) LH receptor formation in cumulus cells surrounding porcine oocytes, and its role during meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. Biol. Reprod. 68: 1142-1149
23. Isobe N, Yoshimura Y, Nakao T (2002) Distribution of immunoreactive von Willebrand factor in the microvascular network of bovine cystic follicles. Anim. Sci. J. 73: 123-129
24. Isobe N, Nakao T (2002) Direct enzyme immunoassay of estrone sulfate in the plasma of cattle. J Reprod Dev 48: 75-78
25. Isobe N, Kawai H, Yoshimura Y, Nakao T (2001) Changes in the Localization of Immunoreactive von Willebrand Factor in Microvascular Network of Bovine Ovarian Follicles during Atresia. Anim. Sci. J. 72(6):473-482.
26. Zheng WM , Nishibori M , Isobe N and Yoshimura Y (2001) An in situ hybridization study of the effects of artificial insemination on the localization of cells expressing MHC class II mRNA in the chicken oviduct. Reproduction 122: 581�]586.
27. Zeng WX, Shimada M, Isobe N and Terada T(2001) Survival of Boar Spermatozoa Frozen in Diluents of Varying Osmolality. Theriogenology 56: 447-458.
28. Zeng WX, Isobe N and Terada T (2001) Effects of Exposure to Bovine Follicular Fluid before Freezing on Cryoresistance of Boar Spermatozoa. Anim. Sci. J. 72(4): 291-298.
29. Isobe N and Terada T (2001) Effect of the factor inhibiting germinal vesicle breakdown on the disruption of gap junctions and cumulus expansion of pig cumulus-oocyte complexes cultured in vitro. Reproduction 121(2): 249-257
30. Isobe N and Terada T (2001) Effect of bovine follicular fluid added to the maturation medium on sperm penetration in pig oocytes matured in vitro. Jounal of International Development and Cooperation. 7(1): 59-66
31. Isobe N and Yoshimura Y (2000) Immunocytochemical study of cell proliferation in the cystic ovarian follicles in cows. Theriogenology 54: 1159-1169
32. Isobe N, Yoshimura Y (2000) Localization of apoptotic cells in the cystic ovarian follicles of cows: a DNA-end labeling histochemical study. Theriogenology 53: 897-904.
33. Isobe N, Maeda T and Terada T (1998) Involvement of meiotic resumption in the disruption of gap junctions between cumulus cells attached to pig oocytes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 113: 167-172.
34. Yamamoto Y, Amano T, Namikawa T, Tsunoda K, Okabayashi H, Hata H, Nozawa K, Nishida T, Yamagata T,Isobe N, Kurogi K, Tanaka K, Son HV, Loc CB, Xuan V-T, Nam NH, Hung HQ, Giang VD, Binh DV (1998) Gene constitution of the native chickens in Vietnam. Rep Soc Res Native Livestock 16: 75-84.
35. Nozawa K, Namikawa T, Amano T, Hata H, Tanaka K, Isobe N, Yamamoto Y, Dang VB, Phan XH, Nguyen HN, Trinh DT, Nguyen DM, Chau BL (1998) Gene-constitution of the native horses of Vietnam. Rep Soc Res Native Livestock 16: 105-212.
36. Isobe N, Fujihara M and Terada T (1996) Cumulus cells suppress meiotic progression in pig oocytes cultured in vitro. Theriogenology 45: 1479-1489.

1. Feranil JB, Isobe N. and Nakao T Cell proliferation in the ovary of swamp buffalo. The 7th World Buffalo Congress (Manila, Philippines, Oct, 2004)
2. Feranil JB, Isobe N. and Nakao T Changes in the thecal microvasculature during follicular atresia in the ovary of swamp buffalo. The 11th Animal Science Congress of AAAP (Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 2004)
3. Isobe N. and Nakao T Determination of estrone derivatives in the bovine feces by enzyme immunoassay. The 11th Animal Science Congress of AAAP (Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 2004)
4. Feranil JB, Isobe N. and Nakao T Immunohistochemical localization of caspase-3 in the antral follicles of swamp buffalo ovary . The 37th annual meeting of SSR(Aug. 2004)
5. Yamada K, Nakao T, Isobe N. and Matsuda G Effects of interval from calving to treatment and resumption of ovarian cyclicity on conception rate in dairy cows after OVSYNCH. The 24th World Buiatrics Congress (Quebec, Jul. 2004)
6. Isobe N. , Yoshimura Y. and Nakao T. Proliferation of granulosa and thecal cells in the cystic ovarian follicles in cows. The 14th International Congress of Animal Reproduction (Jul. 2000)
7. Elmileik, A., Isobe, N., Terada, T. Effect of adding follicular fluid to maturation medium, at different stages of nuclear progression, on in vitro development of bovine oocytes.The 32th Society for the study of Reproduction 60, suppl 1: 175 (Jul.-Aug. 1999)
8. Isobe, N., Tatemoto, H. and Terada, T. Involvement of the disruption of gap junctions between cumulus cells in germinal vesicle breakdown in pig cumulus oocyte complexes cultured in vitro. The 13th International Congress of Animal Reproduction (Jun. 1996)
9. Terada, T., Tatemoto, H., Kawahara, H., Isobe, N. and Kobayashi, S. Effect of follicular fluid added to fertilization medium on sperm movement characteristics, fertilization and subsequent developmental ability of bovine oocytes. The 13th International Congress of Animal Reproduction (Jun. 1996)
10. Isobe, N., Tatemoto, H. and Terada, T. Effect of the factor(s) inhibiting germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) on the disruption of gap junction and cumulus cell expansion in pig oocytes. The 8th Animal Science Congress of AAAP (Oct. 1996)
11. Terada, T., Isobe, N. and Tatemoto, H. Some characteristics of factor(s) inhibiting germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) secreted from cumulus cells of pig cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured in vitro. The 8th Animal Science Congress of AAAP (Oct. 1996)