The establishment of endoplasmic reticulum stress targeting treatment of aged oocytes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16805
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Takehara Isao 山形大学, 医学部, 助教 (80642496)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 小胞体ストレス / ミトコンドリア / 加齢卵 / 胚発育

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With aging, the quality of oocytes declines and pregnancy outcomes deteriorate, but there is currently no effective treatment. In this study, it was shown for the first time that both mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the oocyte interact with each other to cause this deterioration in quality. Furthermore, when either endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondrial function-improving drugs were used on aged oocytes prior to fertilization, the subsequent developmental outcome of embryos improved with either treatment. However, a synergistic effect between the two was not demonstrated, and this remains an issue for the future.

Free Research Field

生殖医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我が国では年々不妊治療をうける女性の年齢が上昇しているが、加齢に伴う卵子の質低下に対する有効な治療方法はない。これまで試みた小胞体やミトコンドリアを標的とした研究では、治療成績の改善は部分的であった。本研究では、受精前の治療薬使用により小胞体とミトコンドリアのいずれを標的とした場合も治療成績が改善した。今後両者を組み合わせることで、加齢に伴う卵子の質低下に対する治療開発の足がかりとなることが期待される。