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The research, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge, found that fetal exposure to chronic hypoxia (low oxygen levels) during development had resulted in advanced aging of the ovaries and a decrease in the number of eggs available.
Intrauterine hypoxia can be caused by a number of factors, including smoking, pre-eclampsia, maternal obesity and living at high altitude. It is already known that this condition can have long-term effects on the health of offspring, including an increased risk of heart disease. However, this study, published in the FASEB Journal, is the first time that it affects fertility.
To investigate the effects of hypoxia, researchers at the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories have submitted pregnant rats at reduced oxygen levels (13% compared to the standard 21% detected in air) from the sixth to the twentieth day of their pregnancy. . They then examined the reproductive tract of their female pups at the age of four months.
Rats are a useful model for studying pregnancy. As a mammal, their body and underlying biology share some essential similarities with those of humans. However, their gestation period and life cycle are much shorter than those of humans, making it an ideal animal model for the study of pregnancy and fetal development.
When the team examined puppies, they found a decrease in the number of ovarian follicles in the reproductive tract. Females are born with a fixed number of follicles, each with the potential to turn into an egg. In men, the woman usually spends all her eggs around the age of fifty and then enters menopause.
The researchers also examined the length of telomeres in the ovarian tissue of puppies. Telomeres are at the end of chromosomes and prevent the chromosome from deteriorating – they are often compared to the plastic that seals the ends of shoe laces. As we age, telomeres become shorter and shorter, so their length can be used as a surrogate for measuring aging. The researchers found that ovarian tissue telomeres of hypoxia-exposed pups were shorter than those of unexposed pups.
"It's as if low levels of oxygen lead to faster aging of the woman's ovarian tissue," says Dr. Catherine Aiken of Cambridge University. "Biologically, the tissue looks older and the female would run out of eggs – in other words, become sterile – at a younger age."
Although the research was done on rats, Dr. Aiken says that there is every reason to expect that the results can be translated to humans because previous studies on hypoxia during pregnancy in relation to other conditions such as heart disease have proved to be relevant. humans.
Women are advised not to smoke during pregnancy, but they can not control other causes of hypoxia, such as pre-eclampsia and high altitude living. However, says Dr. Aiken, the results of her team's research could prove useful for women exposed to low oxygen levels during their mother's pregnancy.
"Now that we have found a link between hypoxia and fertility problems in rats, we know what to look for in women," she says. "If this is true for them, women at risk will be able to act: by having children earlier in life or by seeking reproductive badistance, such as IVF, nothing should prevent these women from having children. "
Dr. Aiken is also involved in research to determine if anti-oxidant drugs can help repair the damage caused by hypoxia.
This article has been republished from documents provided by the University of Cambridge. Note: Content may have changed for length and content. For more information, please contact the cited source.
Reference
Aiken, CE et al. Chronic gestational hypoxia accelerates ovarian aging and decreases ovarian reserve in adult female rats of the next generation. FASEB; March 27, 2019; DOI: 10.1096 / fj.201802772R.
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