A woman’s eggs age a lot faster than the rest of her, decreasing her chances of giving birth to a baby as she gets older. Researchers from Singapore have made a breakthrough in reversing the age of women’s eggs, paving the way for greater success in assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization. Putting a young egg cell in an aged follicle aged it, while the reverse actually rejuvenated older egg cells, scientists from the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at the National University of Singapore and the NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE) discovered. Egg quality declines with age, beginning at around age 32 and more rapidly after 37, resulting in a lower rate of successful fertilization and a higher chance of miscarriage or genetic disorders in the resulting embryos.
Reversing the age of human egg cells using young granulosa cells is a concept being explored in reproductive biology. Granulosa cells play a crucial role in the maturation and support of oocytes (egg cells) in the ovarian follicles. As women age, both the egg cells and the surrounding granulosa cells deteriorate in function, which impacts fertility. The idea of using young granulosa cells to reverse the aging of egg cells is based on the hypothesis that rejuvenating the microenvironment of the egg, particularly through granulosa cells, could improve the quality and functionality of older eggs.
The mechanism for this hypothesis entails granulosa cells in ovarian function. Granulosa cells surround the egg within the ovarian follicle and provide essential signals and nutrients to help the egg mature. These cells support the egg by:
• Providing necessary growth factors.
• Regulating the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
• Protecting the oocyte from oxidative stress.
As the ovary ages, both the egg and the granulosa cells become less efficient. By introducing younger granulosa cells into this environment, scientists believe it might be possible to enhance the signaling and metabolic support that aging eggs receive, potentially improving egg quality and even reversing some aspects of aging. The use of different techniques such as the one utilized by the above study might incorporate the approaches for the use of young granulosa cells might include 1. Cell Transplantation: Scientists are exploring the possibility of transplanting young granulosa cells into older ovarian environments. These cells could theoretically enhance the oocyte’s ability to mature properly, helping reverse age-related decline.
2. Co-culture Systems: In laboratory settings, aging eggs could be co-cultured with young granulosa cells, providing them with an optimal environment for rejuvenation.
3. Cellular Reprogramming: Techniques that reprogram cells to a younger state, such as the use of certain proteins or gene editing, could potentially apply to granulosa cells, offering a way to support egg rejuvenation at the cellular level.
4. Mitochondrial Transfer: Another approach might involve transferring mitochondria from young granulosa cells into older oocytes, potentially improving the energy production and reducing oxidative damage that leads to egg deterioration.
The current status is that its mostly experimental at a early stage and the successful transformation to the human eggs maybe years away.
