HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 73/2/366    most recent biolreprod.105.040956v2 biolreprod.105.040956v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Biol Reprod Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thouas, G. A. Articles by Jones, G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thouas, G. A. Articles by Jones, G. M. Agricola Articles by Thouas, G. A. Articles by Jones, G. M.

Effect of Female Age on Mouse Oocyte Developmental Competence Following Mitochondrial Injury¹

Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia

Oocytes from aging ovaries contain mitochondria with morphological and genetic flaws. How these flaws relate to phenotypes of oocyte developmental compromise associated with clinical infertility is not well understood. This study was conducted to investigate the role of mitochondria in the developmental compromises observed with female aging using a mouse model of mitochondrial dysfunction. Oocytes obtained from aging (30–40 wk) (C57BL/6J x CBACaH)F1 (B6CBAF1) hybrid female mice were photosensitized with mitochondrial fluorophore rhodamine-123 for variable durations and compared to similarly treated oocytes derived from pubertal mice (4–6 wk). Blastocyst development of normally fertilized oocytes from both age-groups correlated negatively in mathematically unique profiles with irradiation time, with a more sudden decline in development for oocytes from aging mice. Complete inhibition of blastocyst development occurred following a shorter duration of photosensitization for oocytes from aging compared to pubertal animals (60 vs. 90 sec). Prolonged photosensitization resulted in mitochondrial uncoupling and promoted localized generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial permeabilization, and apoptotic phenotypes. Thus, aging oocytes are more developmentally sensitive to mitochondrial damage than pubertal oocytes but undergo similar metabolic and apoptotic responses. These and future findings may encourage further optimization of laboratory-based strategies to minimize mitochondrial injury to oocytes, particularly those from older women, and improve clinical outcomes for women with age-related etiologies of infertility.

aging, apoptosis, embryo, in vitro fertilization, oocyte development

² Correspondence: George A. Thouas, Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL), STRIP—Building 75, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia. FAX: 61 3 9905 0680; george.thouas{at}med.monash.edu.au

Related articles in Biol Reprod:

Highlights

Mary Ann Handel, John Eppig, and Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter
Biol Reprod 2005 73: 213. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Fukuhara, S. Fujii, R. Nakamura, E. Yuzawa, H. Kimura, A. Fukui, and H. Mizunuma Erythrocytes counteract the negative effects of female ageing on mouse preimplantation embryo development and blastocyst formation Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2008; 23(9): 2080 - 2085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Tatone, F. Amicarelli, M. C. Carbone, P. Monteleone, D. Caserta, R. Marci, P. G. Artini, P. Piomboni, and R. Focarelli Cellular and molecular aspects of ovarian follicle ageing Hum. Reprod. Update, March 1, 2008; 14(2): 131 - 142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Cukurcam, I. Betzendahl, G. Michel, E. Vogt, C. Hegele-Hartung, B. Lindenthal, and U. Eichenlaub-Ritter Influence of follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol on aneuploidy rate and precocious chromatid segregation in aged mouse oocytes Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 22(3): 815 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Thouas, A. O. Trounson, and G. M. Jones Developmental Effects of Sublethal Mitochondrial Injury in Mouse Oocytes Biol Reprod, May 1, 2006; 74(5): 969 - 977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]