Potential effects of age-associated oxidative stress on mammalian oocytes/embryos

• Published in: Molecular human reproduction Vol. 2; no. 10; pp. 717 - 724
• Main Author: Tarin, Juan J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.10.1996
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; Adult; ageing; Animals; Cellular Senescence; Congenital Abnormalities - etiology; Cytoskeleton - metabolism; Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure; DNA, Mitochondrial - metabolism; Egg Proteins - metabolism; embryo development; Embryo, Mammalian - cytology; Fertility; Fertilization; Fetal Proteins - metabolism; Glutathione - metabolism; Humans; Mammals - embryology; Maternal Age; Mice; mitochondria; Neoplasms - etiology; Oocytes - cytology; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species
• ISSN: 1360-9947; 1460-2407
• DOI: 10.1093/molehr/2.10.717

This bioessay aims to explain the different effects of maternal ageing and postovulatory oocyte ageing on mammalian oocytes/embryos under the scope of ‘the oxygen radical-mitochondrial injury hypothesis of ageing’. This hypothesis assumes a key role in the senescent process of oxygen radical damage to mitochondrial DNA, proteins and lipids. It is proposed that a decrease in intracellular ATP concentrations and glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) ratio together with a concomitant increase in cytosolic Ca2+ are major factors causing the observed detrimental effects of ageing on cytoskeletal fibres, fertilization and embryo development.