Since １９７７， this Department has been studying the interactions between tropical environment and the human beings and animals from the view point of the environmental physiology and aiming to apply the results to tropical medicine. In １９９６， the Magnetic Resonance Imaging（MRI）for animal experiment was induced in this Institute. The two environmental chambers in which air temperature and relative humidity are controlled belong to the Department.

Study of effective protect method from ultraviolet rays
　　Ultraviolet rays（UV）contained by Sun light cause various damage in the living body, and UV is a large quantity and strong power in the Tropical Zone and the mountains in particularly. Therefore, the creatures on earth acquired various protect methods for ultraviolet rays harmful to body in a process of evolution.
　　We have been promoting the study of protect methods from ultraviolet rays in Yellow mouse inhabiting desert, Pika inhabiting the mountains of　３２００m above see level and other several kinds of wild mammals.
　　In this study, we examine countermeasures for ultraviolet rays in the Tropical Zone and ozone hole in the environmental disruption. For the purpose, we study effective protect mechanisms for ultraviolet rays from wild mammalian animals, which inhabit desert or the mountains for many generations under strong UV conditions.

The influence of change in biophylaxis functions induced by ultraviolet radiation to infection of tropical disease
　　Skin cancer occurs by strong ultraviolet radiation for a long term. The exposure to more little mount of ulrtaviolet rays may be influence biophylaxis function to infection. Ultraviolet rays in the Tropical Zone are strong, and many persons suffer from infectious disease. There are approximately ２５０　million patients with schistosomiasis in Tropical Zone.
　　In our experiment on infection of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae to mouse, ultraviolet radiation group by ultraviolet lamp（UV‐B）was statistical differencei the number of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae invaded into skin and recovery the adult warms compared with non‐irradiation group. We experiment the influence of ultraviolet rays in Sun light on it now.
　　This study elucidates influence of ultraviolet rays for infectious disease and contributes to the infectious disease control, in particular, it in the Tropical Zone with strong ultraviolet rays.

　

Study on the mechanisms of heat and cold tolerance in hibernators
　　Hibernators possess a characteristic ability to tolerate cold. To clarify the mechanisms of cold tolerance, the neural, endocrine and cardiovascular systems and the induction of cold shock protein are being compared between hibernators and non‐hibernators （pika, rat and rabbit）.

　

Study on the coordination of extensor and flexor muscles in ballistic action by surface electrode myogram and encephalogram analyzer
　　During ballistic finger extension, flexor muscles coordinate with extensor muscles. The significance of coordination of flexor and extensor muscles is under investigation in the athletes who trained ballistic actions.