New drug may extend women’s fertility by six years
Team Udayavani, Feb 26, 2018, 3:36 PM IST
Washington: Scientists have identified a drug that extends egg viability in worms and could theoretically extend women’s fertility by three to six years. “As early as the mid-30s, women start to experience declines in fertility, increased rates of miscarriage and maternal age-related birth defects,” said Coleen Murphy from the Princeton University in the US.
“All of these problems are thought to be caused by declining egg quality, rather than a lack of eggs,” said Murphy. The researchers used a microscopic worm, Caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans), to study longevity. For the study, published in the journal Current Biology, they investigated downregulated group of proteins, cathepsin B proteases, that are rare in high-quality eggs and more common in eggs that have begun degrading with age.
The existence of drugs that block these exact proteins provided an opportunity to test their effects. Another experiment that knocked out the cathepsin B genes entirely succeeded in extending worms fertility by about 10 percent. “If applied to humans, it could be a three- to a six-year extension of your reproductive period,” said Nicole Templeman from Princeton University.
The reproductive decline is a hallmark of ageing, but despite its prevalence, interventions to slow the loss of reproductive capacity are lacking, the researchers said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Mangaluru: Campco opposes WHO’s claim of arecanut being carcinogenic
10 month baby gets new heart, new life
World COPD Day: Know your lung function
As Delhi chokes with dangerous pollution levels, doctors warn of health risks for all
World Diabetes Day 2024: Kasturba Hospital Manipal Hosts Zumba Session at Malpe Beach to Raise Diabetes Awareness
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Sambhal violence: FIR against SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA’s son
Congress rebel joins Shiv Sena after poll defeat against CM Shinde
Bantwal: Three arrested in Thumbe temple theft case
Bengaluru: BBMP garbage truck driver dies after tree branch falls on him
Organised crime module busted with arrest of three: Punjab Police
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.