Mechanisms of reproductive aging: conserved mechanisms and environmental factors

Abstract

The interplay of neuroendocrine processes and gonadal function is exquisitely expressed during aging. In females, loss of ovarian function results in decreased circulating estradiol. As a result, estrogen dependent endocrine and behavioral responses decline, including impaired cognitive function reflecting the impact of declining estrogen on the hippocampus circuits, and decreased metabolic endocrine function. Concurrently, age-related changes in neuroendocrine response also contribute to the declining reproductive function. Our session considered key mechanisms in reproductive aging including the roles of ovarian function(Finch and Holmes) and the hypothalamic median eminence (Gore and colleagues) with an associated age-related cognitive decline that accompanies estrogen loss (Morrison and colleagues). Effects of smoking, obesity, and insulin resistance (Sowers and colleagues) impact the timing of the peri-menopause transition in women. Animal models provide excellent insights into conserved mechanisms and key overarching events that bring about endocrine and behavioral aging. Environmental factors are key triggers in timing endocrine aging with implications for eventual disease. Session presentations will be considered in the context of the broader topic of indices and predictors of aging-related change.

Prolactin and growth hormone affect metaphase-II chromosomes in aging oocytes via cumulus cells using similar signaling pathways

“…General senescence of the adult organism is closely connected with reproductive one. It is well established that the female reproductive performance, primarily the ovarian function, deteriorates with age in many vertebrates including humans, with underlying fundamental mechanisms being conserved among species ( Finch and Holmes, 2010 ; Ottinger, 2010 ). In mammals, an initial reduction in the female fertility is primarily associated with a decline in the gamete fitness ( Tatone et al, 2008 ).…”

Ovarian Aging-Like Phenotype in the Hyperandrogenism-Induced Murine Model of Polycystic Ovary

“…Accordingly, several environmental factors have been confirmed to contribute to reproductive aging [2]. Female reproductive system is unique in the fact that it displays physiologically much faster rate of aging and when it reaches a senescent state, other organs in the body remain generally healthy.…”

Developing the Transdisciplinary Aging Research Agenda: New Developments in Big Data

“…The building of reference databases related to animal experimentation offers useful insights into normal parameters, for example regarding lung volumes and capacities and infection incidence [ 28 ]. Work on endocrine-related effects of ageing, for example, relies heavily on comparative biology, as does work on environmental influences [ 29 ]. Comparative biology also offers useful insights into telomere research [ 30 ], an increasingly promising area of discovery.…”