Hallmarks of female reproductive aging in physiologic aging mice.
Abstract
The female reproductive axis is one of the first organ systems to age, which has consequences for fertility and overall health. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the biological process of female reproductive aging across reproductive organs, tissues and cells based on research with widely used physiologic aging mouse models, and describe the mechanisms that underpin these phenotypes. Overall, aging is associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, perturbations of the ovarian stroma, reduced egg quantity and quality, and altered uterine morphology and function that contributes to reduced capacity for fertilization and impaired embryo development. Ultimately, these age-related phenotypes contribute to altered pregnancy outcomes and adverse consequences in offspring. Conserved mechanisms of aging, as well as those unique to the reproductive system, underlie these phenotypes. The knowledge of such mechanisms will lead to development of therapeutics to extend female reproductive longevity and support endocrine function and overall health.
The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.
Research summary
The paper addresses the biological processes of female reproductive aging and its implications for fertility and overall health, which are relevant to understanding aging mechanisms. However, while it provides a comprehensive overview and discusses potential therapeutic developments, the findings appear to be more of a solid contribution rather than a groundbreaking advance in the field of longevity research. The focus on reproductive aging is important, but it does not significantly extend the broader understanding of aging mechanisms or lifespan extension.
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