Review of psychological stress on oocyte and early embryonic development in female mice

Abstract

Psychological stress can cause adverse health effects in animals and humans. Accumulating evidence suggests that psychological stress in female mice is associated with ovarian developmental abnormalities accompanied by follicle and oocyte defects. Oocyte and early embryonic development are impaired in mice facing psychological stress, likely resulting from hormone signalling disorders, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and alterations in epigenetic modifications, which are primarily mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axes. The present evidence suggests that psychological stress is increasingly becoming the most common causative factor for female subfertility. Here, we review recent progress on the impact of psychological stress on female reproduction, particularly for oocyte and early embryonic development in female mice. This review highlights the connection between psychological stress and reproductive health and provides novel insight on human subfertility.

Chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mouse ovarian insufficiency by interrupting lipid homeostasis in the ovary

“…A growing body of research demonstrates that psychological stress in women is linked to ovarian developmental anomalies, including follicle and oocyte malformations ( Zhai et al, 2020 ). But the mechanisms remain unclear.…”

“…At present, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that psychological stress might affect female reproduction. Psychological stress has been linked to oocyte development, oocyte fertilization, embryonic development, pregnancy, live birth delivery, birth weight, and multiple gestations in women ( Klonoff-Cohen et al, 2001 ; Neggers et al, 2006 ; Williams et al, 2007 ; Stickel et al, 2019 ; Zhai et al, 2020 ).…”

The relationship between metabolic stress and Anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH) in women hospitalized in intensive care units

“…It has been reported that hypothalamo-pituitary hormones, adrenocortical hormones, thyroid hormones, autonomic nervous system, arachidonic acid metabolites, opioids, cytokines, kallikrein kinin system play a role in this response (4). In the metabolic endocrine response to trauma, there is an increase in ACTH, cortisol, and growth hormone.…”

Single-cell multi-omics of human preimplantation embryos shows susceptibility to glucocorticoids

“…Indeed, women undergoing infertility treatment have been reported to experience an increased level of stress and anxiety, which negatively impact reproduction (Kee et al 2000;Neggers et al 2006;Cesta et al 2018). Animal models of maternal stress have demonstrated that preimplantation glucocorticoid exposure results in long-term developmental consequences reaching into postnatal life and adulthood including a significant reduction in implantation sites in utero, altered behavior, lower body weight, altered metabolic function, increased fat deposits, altered 4 HPA-axis function, suboptimal cardiovascular health and a proinflammatory immune response (Watkins et al 2008;Bale 2014, 2016;Jasarevic et al 2017;Zhao et al 2020;Zhai et al 2020;Burkuš et al 2013;Chan et al 2018;Zhao et al 2015). In vitro models studying the direct effects of glucocorticoid exposure on the preimplantation embryo (non-human) remain controversial in terms of the effects observed, but those using higher doses of glucocorticoid have reported cellular apoptosis and reduced hatching rates (Van Merris et al 2007;Santana et al 2014;González et al 2010; Čikoš et al 2019).…”