Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Veterinary pathology: Learning about the pathogenesis of diseases from a variety of animal disorders

　Veterinary pathology is a field of study that primarily uses morphological techniques to study diseases in various animals. Understanding why animals get sick is essential to knowing how to prevent and treat diseases. Our laboratory is engaged in long-term research aimed at elucidating the characteristics of brain aging lesions in various aged animals. In humans, excessive aging of the brain leads to Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Our laboratory is investigating interspecies differences in the brain aggregation of various proteins that cause these diseases.
　Personally, I am interested in researching diseases that occur frequently in specific canine breeds. Dogs have lived in human society for a very long time, and through many years of artificial breeding, the diverse breeds we see today have been created. During this process, genetic traits that predispose dogs to certain diseases are also thought to have been passed down to specific breeds.
　For example, Pug dogs are prone to necrotizing meningoencephalitis, Welsh corgi dogs commonly develop a spinal degeneration similar to human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and boxers and bulldogs often develop specific types of brain tumors. We believe that carefully studying the aging phenomena and the causes of diseases in animal brains, as well as clarifying those causes, will not only contribute to the treatment and prevention of animal diseases but also be useful in research on similar diseases in humans.

Learn about the broad social role of veterinary medicine through pathology

　In the Veterinary Medicine major, students learn about the ecology and pathology of various animals. Veterinary pathology is an academic field that bridges the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, etc.), applied sciences (infectious diseases, hygiene, etc.), and clinical sciences (internal medicine, surgery, etc.). For this reason, in addition to research topics undertaken for graduation theses, all undergraduate and graduate students at the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory participate in animal dissections and tissue examinations requested from both within and outside the university. In particular, the experience gained through pathological examinations of actual cases is extremely important, allowing one to recognize the importance of pathological knowledge and techniques in veterinary medicine.
　Our laboratory aims to conduct education and research that enables the knowledge gained from such real cases to be applied across various fields. Knowledge of pathology is required in a wide range of fields, including not only basic research but also safety testing at pharmaceutical and food-related companies, and pathological testing of industrial and companion animals.
　Thesis research focuses on topics such as“Alzheimer’s disease-related lesions in aged animals” and “Classification and pathogenesis of nervous system tumors and lymphomas in animals”. In recent years, undergraduate students who have graduated from our laboratory have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees, work for pharmaceutical companies, join government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment, or enter the field of small animal clinical practice.

Contributing to the field of medicine through research on animal diseases

　Veterinary pathology is a field of study that primarily uses morphological techniques to study diseases in various animals. Understanding why animals get sick is essential to knowing how to prevent and treat diseases.
　Our laboratory is engaged in long-term research aimed at elucidating the characteristics of brain aging lesions in various aged animals. In humans, excessive aging of the brain leads to Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Our laboratory is investigating interspecies differences in the brain aggregation of various proteins that cause these diseases.
　Personally, I am interested in researching diseases that occur frequently in specific canine breeds. Dogs have lived in human society for a very long time, and through many years of artificial breeding, the diverse breeds we see today have been created. During this process, genetic traits that predispose dogs to certain diseases are also thought to have been passed down to specific breeds. For example, Pug dogs are prone to necrotizing meningoencephalitis, Welsh corgi dogs commonly develop a spinal degeneration similar to human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and boxers and bulldogs often develop specific types of brain tumors.
　We believe that carefully studying the aging phenomena and the causes of diseases in animal brains, as well as clarifying those causes, will not only contribute to the treatment and prevention of animal diseases but also be useful in research on similar diseases in humans.