Article
Cell Biology
Ren-Ren Chen, Jia Wang, Min Zhang, Qiao-Qiao Kong, Guang-Yi Sun, Chun-Hui Jin, Ming-Jiu Luo, Jing-He Tan
Summary: This study examined the effects of psychological stress on oocyte development in female mice and found that the stress accelerated oocyte aging, impairing their resistance to aging and affecting their developmental potential. The findings highlight the importance of avoiding stressful life events before pregnancy to improve reproductive outcomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiadan Qu, Yunyao Luo, Lifeng Qin, Jing Guo, Ling Zhu, Chong Li, Juan Xie, Chunmeng Shi, Guoning Huang, Jingyu Li
Summary: In this study, the near-infrared fluorophore IR-61 was found to accumulate in oocyte mitochondria and improve mitochondrial function in postovulatory aging. It also rescued oocyte quality and embryonic developmental potential. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that IR-61 might inhibit the oxidative stress pathway induced by postovulatory aging.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benazir Abbasi, Yan Dong, Rong Rui
Summary: The study showed that the use of resveratrol (RV) can improve the survival rate of oocytes and reduce the level of ROS in aged oocytes, thereby resisting damage during aging by increasing the expression of antioxidant genes.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Zhao-Cheng Zeng, Jiang Jiang, Xin-Jie Wang, Kang-Na Wei, Hui-Sheng Liang, Li-Xin Zeng, Ying Xu, Shu-Juan Xie, Zhe Meng, Xiang-Jun Yang, Ai -Wei Guo, Hai-Long Wang
Summary: The results of this study suggest that kaempferol may be a potent natural antioxidant and could alleviate postovulatory oocyte ageing. These findings have implications for animal husbandry and may help improve the success rate of IVF and ICSI.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Valentina Di Nisio, Sevastiani Antonouli, Pauliina Damdimopoulou, Andres Salumets, Sandra Cecconi
Summary: This paper is an updated review on the consequences of postovulatory aging (POA) on oocyte quality, either in vivo or in vitro, with a focus on the modifications caused by POA on oocyte nuclear, cytoplasmic, genomic, and epigenetic maturation, as well as embryo development. The research highlights the importance of considering the effects of POA in assisted reproductive technologies, particularly when the fertilization of mature oocytes is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lu Liu, Jie Huang, Anlan He, Shuai Zhou, Qianneng Lu, Xiaoning Yu, Xue Bai, Mingrui Li, Ran Huo
Summary: This study found that 4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) can improve the quality of postovulatory ageing (POA) oocytes by eliminating accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing apoptosis, improving mitochondrial distribution, and restoring the actin cap formation. DMC supplementation activates autophagy to protect oocytes from the effects of POA, leading to improved fertilization and developmental potential.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xupeng Xing, Yalin Liang, Yanan Li, Yaolu Zhao, Yuxing Zhang, Zheng Li, Zicong Li, Zhenfang Wu
Summary: Fisetin, a bioactive flavonol found in fruits and vegetables, can delay the postovulatory aging of eggs, improve their development after fertilization, and inhibit the reduction of Sirt1 in aged eggs. Fisetin also increases the levels of GSH and Sod2 to reduce ROS accumulation, attenuates spindle abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis caused by aging. Furthermore, fisetin upregulates the expression of the mitochondrial transcription factor Tfam and the mitochondrial genes Co2 and Atp8 by increasing Sirt1 in aged eggs. Finally, the anti-aging effects of fisetin are reversed by inhibiting Sirt1.
Review
Cell Biology
Ling Wang, Jinhua Tang, Lei Wang, Feng Tan, Huibin Song, Jiawei Zhou, Fenge Li
Summary: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in oocyte aging, leading to a gradual decrease in oocyte quantity and quality, as well as various reproductive pathologies. Strategies to delay oocyte aging include targeting oxidative stress through autophagy antioxidant pathways and antioxidants, along with creating a hypoxic culture environment for oocytes in vitro.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xupeng Xing, Jingfeng Peng, Jingyu Zhao, Ruoxi Shi, Caiqin Wang, Zihan Zhang, Zihan Wang, Zicong Li, Zhenfang Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that luteolin, a natural flavonoid, regulates the distribution and function of organelles including mitochondria, ER, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes during postovulatory oocyte aging by activating SIRT1, thereby protecting the quality of oocytes.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Xupeng Xing, Jinjing Zhang, Teng Wu, Jingcheng Zhang, Yongsheng Wang, Jianmin Su, Yong Zhang
Summary: The study revealed that SIRT1 was down-regulated in postovulatory aged oocytes, accompanied by increased acetylation of H3K9 and methylation of H3K4. Injecting SIRT1 into oocytes significantly reduced these changes caused by aging, maintaining both genetic and epigenetic qualities of postovulatory aged oocytes.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sydney L. Lane, Jason C. Parks, Jennifer E. Russ, Shaihla A. Khan, William B. Schoolcraft, Ye Yuan, Mandy G. Katz-Jaffe
Summary: Ovarian aging is characterized by elevated oxidative stress and diminished oocyte competence, however, antioxidant treatment with acai in aged mice effectively improved blastocyst formation and implantation potential by upregulating NRF2 to enhance ovarian function.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Katarzyna Czajkowska, Anna Ajduk
Summary: Maternal aging leads to decreased oocyte quality and developmental potential. Maternally aged oocytes can present as either normal or shrunken morphology. Shrunken oocytes exhibit compromised mitochondrial functionality, while normal oocytes have higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The shrunken phenotype is likely related to postovulatory aging rather than solely maternal aging.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yun-Hee Kim, Su-Yeon Lee, Eun-Young Kim, Kyeoung-Hwa Kim, Mi-Kyoung Koong, Kyung-Ah Lee
Summary: The decrease in quality of postovulatory aged oocytes is caused by oxidative stress and affects the success rate of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The citrus coumarin AUR has antioxidant effects and can delay the aging process of oocytes by alleviating oxidative stress. This study confirms that AUR can improve the quality of aged oocytes and suggests it as a potential clinical supplement to prevent postovulatory aging.
Article
Cell Biology
Huan Wang, Jianmin Xu, Hui Li, Wenhui Chen, Xinxin Zeng, Yingpu Sun, Qingling Yang
Summary: Assisted reproductive technology is widely accepted as an effective treatment for improving female fertility, however, the decline in the quality of aging oocytes still remains a major factor in reducing female fecundity. In this study, it was shown that supplementation of a-ketoglutarate (a-KG) significantly improved the ovarian reserve and quality of aging oocytes by reducing ROS levels and abnormal spindle assembly, as well as improving mitochondrial functions. These findings suggest that a-KG supplementation could be an effective strategy for improving the quality of aging oocytes in vivo or in vitro.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Arkadiusz Grzeczka, Pawel Kordowitzki
Summary: There is significant variability in the aging-related decline of oocytes among mammalian species. The evolutionary conservation of the aging mechanism and the need to develop antiaging strategies have attracted widespread interest. Resveratrol, an antioxidant, has shown antiaging properties and the ability to enhance Sirtuin 1 activity.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Tessa Lord, Nathan C. Law, Melissa J. Oatley, Deqiang Miao, Guihua Du, Jon M. Oatley
Summary: This study developed a high-throughput method to rapidly predict alterations in functional capacity of spermatogonia. By conducting a large-scale RNAi screen of transcription factors, a repository of new information was generated, from which candidate molecular networks regulating regenerative functions were predicted through pathway analysis. The SRCAP-CREBBP/EP300 complex was identified as a mediator of differential levels of histone acetylation between stem cell and progenitor spermatogonia, influencing the expression of key self-renewal genes.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
R. John Aitken, Elizabeth G. Bromfield, Zamira Gibb
Summary: This article summarizes the impact of oxidative stress on reproductive processes, including both physiological regulation and pathophysiology. It outlines the chemical nature of reactive oxygen species (ROS), their interaction with cells, and their effects on cellular function and genetic integrity. The article also discusses the mechanisms by which ROS generation overwhelms the cells' antioxidant defense mechanisms, focusing on gametogenesis and fertilization within the male and female reproductive systems. Additionally, the article examines the role of external factors in exacerbating oxidative stress and impairing reproductive competence, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatments based on a deeper understanding of the nature, source, magnitude, and location of such stress within the reproductive system.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lars Bjorndahl, Christopher L. R. Barratt, David Mortimer, Ashok Agarwal, Robert J. Aitken, Juan G. Alvarez, Natalie Aneck-Hahn, Stefan Arver, Elisabetta Baldi, Lluis Bassas, Florence Boitrelle, Riana Bornman, Douglas T. Carrell, Jose A. Castilla, Gerardo Cerezo Parra, Jerome H. Check, Patricia S. Cuasnicu, Sally Perreault Darney, Christiaan de Jager, Christopher J. De Jonge, Joel R. Drevet, Erma Z. Drobnis, Stefan S. Du Plessis, Michael L. Eisenberg, Sandro C. Esteves, Evangelini A. Evgeni, Alberto Ferlin, Nicolas Garrido, Aleksander Giwercman, Ilse G. F. Goovaerts, Trine B. Haugen, Ralf Henkel, Lars Henningsohn, Marie-Claude Hofmann, James M. Hotaling, Piotr Jedrzejczak, Pierre Jouannet, Niels Jorgensen, Jackson C. Kirkman Brown, Csilla Krausz, Maciej Kurpisz, Ulrik Kvist, Dolores J. Lamb, Hagai Levine, Kate L. Loveland, Robert McLachlan, Ali Mahran, Liana Maree, Sarah Martins da Silva, Michael T. Mbizvo, Andreas Meinhardt, Roelof Menkveld, Sharon T. Mortimer, Sergey Moskovtsev, Charles H. Muller, Maria Jose Munuce, Monica Muratori, Craig Niederberger, Cristian O'Flaherty, Rafael Oliva, Willem Ombelet, Allan A. Pacey, Michael A. Palladino, Ranjith Ramasamy, Liliana Ramos, Nathalie Rives, Eduardo Rs Roldan, Susan Rothmann, Denny Sakkas, Andrea Salonia, Maria Cristina Sanchez-Pozo, Rosanna Sapiro, Stefan Schlatt, Peter N. Schlegel, Hans-Christian Schuppe, Rupin Shah, Niels E. Skakkebaek, Katja Teerds, Igor Toskin, Herman Tournaye, Paul J. Turek, Gerhard van der Horst, Monica Vazquez-Levin, Christina Wang, Alex Wetzels, Theodosia Zeginiadou, Armand Zini
Summary: Biomedical science is making rapid progress in terms of transparency, openness, and reproducibility of scientific publications, particularly in studies based on human semen examination. Two recent documents, the 6th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, and the International Standard ISO 23162:2021, provide guidelines for authors to follow these laboratory methods and use a checklist to ensure the reliability of their studies when publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Nathan D. Burke, Brett Nixon, Shaun D. Roman, John E. Schjenken, Jessica L. H. Walters, R. John Aitken, Elizabeth G. Bromfield
Summary: There is a correlation between infertility and poor somatic health, which could indicate a future pathological condition. However, the bidirectional relationship between infertility and poor health needs further clarification. Lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage could serve as potential molecular links between infertility and somatic health.
NATURE REVIEWS UROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Andrology
Robert John Aitken
Editorial Material
Developmental Biology
Robert John Aitken
Review
Andrology
Robert John Aitken, Sheena E. M. Lewis
Summary: This review summarizes the causes and consequences of DNA damage in the male germ line, including how DNA integrity is maintained in stem cells and the increase in background mutation rates with paternal age. It explains the repair pathways activated in germ cells and spermatozoa in response to genetic damage, as well as the potential mutagenic effects of such damage on offspring. The strategies for managing high levels of DNA damage in spermatozoa to reduce risks to offspring health are also discussed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Anne Fraser, Alexandra Louise Wilkins, Geoffry Nunzio De Iuliis, Diane Rebourcet, Brett Nixon, Robert John Aitken
Summary: Oxidative stress in the testes can be induced by various factors and has serious implications for the health of future generations. Researchers developed an animal model to analyze the transgenerational impact of this stress by inducing Sertoli cells to produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This model could be used to study the influence of chronic oxidative stress on testicular function and the impact of DNA damage on future generations.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Brett Nixon, John E. Schjenken, Nathan D. Burke, David A. Skerrett-Byrne, Hanah M. Hart, Geoffry N. De Iuliis, Jacinta H. Martin, Tessa Lord, Elizabeth G. Bromfield
Summary: Male infertility is a common issue, which affects about 50% of couples seeking assisted reproductive technologies. Traditional diagnostic methods have limitations, and there is a growing focus on assessing sperm quality to accurately predict male fertility. Recent advances in sperm biology and function have provided innovative approaches for diagnosing and treating male infertility.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ashlee Jade Medica, Sarah Lambourne, Robert John Aitken
Summary: This study aimed to determine if stallion ejaculate analysis could predict pregnancy resulting from artificial insemination in mares. The study involved 46 inseminations of 41 mares using 7 stallions over 5 weeks. Semen quality was assessed before and after chilling, and various parameters were evaluated. The data, along with the ages of the stallions and mares, were used to predict pregnancy with high accuracy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Hug, Pauline Villeneuve, Stephanie Bravard, Areski Chorfa, Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand, Stephen G. Somkuti, Aron Moazamian, R. John Aitken, Parviz Gharagozloo, Joel R. Drevet, Fabrice Saez
Summary: Routine exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as DBP and BPAF, can lead to decreased sperm quality and DNA damage, while not affecting sperm viability or testicular structures. The observed damage is likely caused by oxidative stress induced by the pro-oxidant properties of the EDCs, as it can be largely prevented by co-administering antioxidants. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of EDCs on male reproductive health.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Alena J. Hungerford, Hassan W. Bakos, Robert J. Aitken
Summary: Sperm cryopreservation is an important method for preserving male fertility, and finding the best technique for sperm isolation post-thaw is crucial for maintaining the quality of sperm and reducing damage. Electrophoretic separation shows superior results compared to other techniques.
REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
R. John Aitken
Summary: In modern post-transition societies, delayed reproduction and increased lifespan are observed. The impact of age on female reproduction has been extensively studied, however, the relationship between age and male reproduction is less known. It is now understood that male fertility declines with advancing age, accompanied by reduced testosterone levels, age-dependent reproductive pathologies, and increased sperm DNA damage. Age-related effects in males also result in an elevated disease burden in offspring, including genetic diseases and neuropsychiatric conditions. The underlying genetic mechanisms involve positive selection of stem cells containing mutations and increased oxidative stress which impairs reproductive function. Antioxidants may play a role in managing age-related effects on male reproduction, although clinical trials are needed.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jess E. Mulhall, Natalie A. Trigg, Ilana R. Bernstein, Amanda L. Anderson, Heather C. Murray, Petra Sipila, Tessa Lord, John E. Schjenken, Brett Nixon, David A. Skerrett-Byrne
Summary: The testes and vas deferens are separated by the epididymis, a tubule with a unique microenvironment that is crucial for sperm maturation. The epididymal epithelium creates this microenvironment through the release of extracellular vesicles and small non-coding RNAs. In this study, the authors used mass spectrometry to compare the protein profiles of an immortalized mouse epididymal epithelial cell line to native mouse epididymal epithelial cells. They found that many proteins identified in the cell line were also present in native cells, supporting the use of this cell line as an in vitro model for studying epididymal epithelial cell function.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ilana R. Bernstein, Brett Nixon, Jess M. Lyons, Katerina B. Damyanova, Camila S. De Oliveira, Nishani S. Mabotuwana, Simone J. Stanger, Gerard E. Kaiko, Tan Hui Ying, Jon M. Oatley, Nicole M. Skillen, Alyssa J. Lochrin, Jera L. Peters, Tessa Lord
Summary: This study explores the role of hypoxia and the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor EPAS1 in regulating spermatogonial stem cell function in the mouse testis. The findings demonstrate that SSCs reside in hypoxic microenvironments and that EPAS1 is essential for robust SSC function in regenerative conditions. These findings shed light on the relationship between hypoxia and male fertility and may facilitate optimization of in vitro culture conditions for infertility treatment using SSCs, particularly for pediatric cancer survivors.