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A Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial with Danazol to Improve Telomeric and Fertility Parameters in Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Pilot Study.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Most women who are treated at in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics have trouble conceiving due to ovarian failure (OF), which seems to be associated to short telomeres and reduced or absent telomerase activity in their granulosa cells. Indeed, telomere pathways are involved in organ dysfunction. However, sexual steroids can stimulate the expression of the telomerase gene and have been successfully used to prevent telomere attrition. Thus, a strategy to improve IVF outcomes in women with OF could be telomerase reactivation using sexual steroids.

Methods

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with diminished ovarian reserve were randomized to Danazol or placebo for 3 months. We included patients with normal ovarian reserve in the study as untreated controls. Patients and controls underwent several ovarian stimulations (OSs). Telomere and IVF parameters were assessed.

Results

We found that the mean telomere length in blood and the percentage of short and long telomeres were similar throughout the 3 months of treatment with Danazol. Remarkably, while the number of cells with one telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) focus decreased (p = 0.04) after the first month of Danazol treatment, the number of cells with 2 to 4 TERRA foci increased (p = 0.02). Regarding fertility, no differences were found in the antral follicle count. Interestingly, in OS performed after the trial, all Danazol-treated patients had a better MII oocyte rate compared to OS performed before the pilot study.EudraCT number: 2018-004400-19.

Conclusions

Danazol treatment seemed to affect telomere maintenance, since both the number of TERRA foci and the ratio of MII oocytes changed. However, further research is needed to confirm these results.

SUBMITTER: Cordova-Oriz I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10354732 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial with Danazol to Improve Telomeric and Fertility Parameters in Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Pilot Study.

Córdova-Oriz Isabel I   Kohls Graciela G   Iglesias Carlos C   Polonio Alba M AM   Chico-Sordo Lucía L   Toribio Mónica M   Meseguer Marcos M   Varela Elisa E   Pellicer Antonio A   García-Velasco Juan A JA  

Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 20230704 1


<h4>Background</h4>Most women who are treated at <i>in vitro</i> fertilization (IVF) clinics have trouble conceiving due to ovarian failure (OF), which seems to be associated to short telomeres and reduced or absent telomerase activity in their granulosa cells. Indeed, telomere pathways are involved in organ dysfunction. However, sexual steroids can stimulate the expression of the telomerase gene and have been successfully used to prevent telomere attrition. Thus, a strategy to improve IVF outco  ...[more]

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