Tag Archives: eggs
Antidepressants may help slow reproductive aging, study finds
In a new study, Northwestern University researchers exposed roundworms (a well-established model organism in biological research) to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of drugs used for treating depression and anxiety. Surprisingly, this treatment improved the quality of aging … Continue reading
Study aims to understand female fertility at the molecular level
Fertility is finite for mammalian females. From birth, females possess a limited number of primordial follicles, collectively called the ovarian reserve. Within each follicle is an oocyte that eventually becomes an egg. But with age, the follicles in the ovarian … Continue reading
Miscarriage risk predictable, study finds
A woman’s risk of suffering one of the most common types of miscarriages can be predicted based on a specialized analysis of her genome, according to a Rutgers study. Scientists said this insight could allow patients and clinicians to make … Continue reading
A missing ‘motor’ causes eggs to fail
Human eggs often contain the wrong number of chromosomes, leading to miscarriages and infertility. A research team led by Melina Schuh at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences, in Germany, has discovered that human eggs are missing an … Continue reading
Study uncovers the role of DNA repair in preserving egg quality
A study out of Australia has uncovered the role DNA repair plays in preserving egg quality, offering hope for women whose eggs may be damaged through treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. The study found that when the cell death … Continue reading
Jumping genes threaten egg cell quality
A woman’s supply of eggs is finite, so it is crucial that the quality of their genetic material is ensured. New work from the Carnegie Institute for Science elucidates a mechanism by which, even before birth, the body tries to … Continue reading
Scientists reverse reproductive clock in mice
Researchers have lifted fertility rates in older female mice with small doses of a metabolic compound that reverses the aging process in eggs, offering hope for some women struggling to conceive. The University of Queensland, Australia, study found a non-invasive … Continue reading
Smoking, pre-eclampsia may cause fertility problems for offspring
Low levels of oxygen in the womb, which can be caused by smoking or conditions such as pre-eclampsia, may cause problems with fertility later in life, a study carried out in rats suggests. The research, led by scientists at the … Continue reading
Breast cancer gene linked to fertility problems
A gene mutation that is linked to a greater risk of breast cancer may also be tied to potential fertility problems, researchers report. The BRCA1 gene mutation, which raises the risk of breast cancer by 80 percent, may be linked … Continue reading
