Spatial Transcriptomic Characteristics of the Aging Human Ovary.

ABSTRACT: Ovarian aging is a complex process that compromises fertility and elevates the risk of reproductive disorders. To elucidate its spatiotemporal dynamics, we integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to construct a comprehensive aging atlas of 12 human ovarian tissues spanning ages 12-54 (prepubertal, age 12, n = 1; young, ages 23-29, n = 4; middle-aged, ages 32-34, n = 2; and older-aged, ages 42-54, n = 5). Our analysis revealed aging-related transcriptomic shifts, including impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and reproductive structure development in aged human ovaries. We identified a novel endothelial cell (EDC) subtype, CLDN5⁺ blood EDCs, which exhibited unique functional specialization as semiprofessional antigen-presenting cells. In c

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12740089 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature