Human ovarian aging is characterized by oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction.

ABSTRACT:

Study question

Are human ovarian aging and the age-related female fertility decline caused by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes?

Summary answer

We found oxidative damage in oocytes of advanced maternal age, even at the primordial follicle stage, and confirmed mitochondrial dysfunction in such oocytes, which likely resulted in the use of alternative energy sources.

What is known already

Signs of reactive oxygen species-induced damage and mitochondrial dysfunction have been observed in maturing follicles, and even in early stages of embryogenesis. However, although recent evidence indicates that also primordial follicles have metabolically active mitochondria, it is still often assumed that these follicles avoid oxidative phosphorylation to preve

SUBMITTER: Smits MAJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10628503 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature