Theranostics 2023; 13(10):3131-3148. doi:10.7150/thno.82553 This issue Cite

Research Paper

The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice

Lincheng Han1#, Yingying Huang1#, Biao Li1, Weiyong Wang1, Yan-li Sun1, Xiaodan Zhang1, Wenbo Zhang1, Shuang Liu1, Wenjun Zhou1, Wei Xia2✉, Meijia Zhang1✉

1. Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.
2. Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510180, China.
#These authors contributed equally: Lincheng Han, Yingying Huang.

Citation:
Han L, Huang Y, Li B, Wang W, Sun Yl, Zhang X, Zhang W, Liu S, Zhou W, Xia W, Zhang M. The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics 2023; 13(10):3131-3148. doi:10.7150/thno.82553. https://www.thno.org/v13p3131.htm
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Abstract

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Background: Aged women and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients have residual dormant primordial follicles that are hard to be activated through a physiological process. However, there are no effective and safe drugs to help them.

Methods: We used the in vitro culture model of newborn mouse ovaries to identify the drugs that promote primordial follicle activation and study its mechanisms. It was verified by in vivo injection model of newborn mice and in vitro culture model of human ovarian tissue. In addition, we used the aged mice as a low infertility model to verify the effects of primordial follicle activation, and fertility by drugs.

Results: Eleven metallic compounds activated mouse primordial follicles, and the five most effective compounds were selected for further study. Thapsigargin (TG), CrCl3, MnCl2, FeCl3 and ZnSO4 increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins (glucose transporter type 4, GLUT4; hexokinase 1, HK1; pyruvate kinase M2, PKM2; phosphofructokinase, liver type, PFKL), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) in cultured mouse ovaries. The compound-promoted p-mTOR levels could be completely blocked by 2-DG (the inhibitor of glycolysis). The compounds also increased the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). TG-, CrCl3- and FeCl3-promoted p-Akt levels, but not MnCl2- and ZnSO4- promoted p-Akt levels, could be completely blocked by ISCK03 (the inhibitor of proto-oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase, KIT). The injection of newborn mice with the compounds also activated primordial follicles and increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins, p-mTOR, and p-Akt. The oral administration of the compounds in adolescent and aged mice promoted primordial follicle activation, and had no obvious side effect. Importantly, ZnSO4 also increased ovulated oocytes, oocyte quality and offspring in aged mice. Furthermore, the compounds promoted human primordial follicle activation and increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins, p-mTOR, and p-Akt.

Conclusion: The metallic compounds activate primordial follicles through the glycolysis-dependent mTOR pathway and/or the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the oral administration of ZnSO4 enhances fertility in aged mice. We suggest that these metallic compounds may be oral drugs to ameliorate fertility deficits in aged women and POI patients.

Keywords: metallic compounds, primordial follicle activation, fertility, mTOR, Akt


Citation styles

APA
Han, L., Huang, Y., Li, B., Wang, W., Sun, Y.l., Zhang, X., Zhang, W., Liu, S., Zhou, W., Xia, W., Zhang, M. (2023). The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics, 13(10), 3131-3148. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.82553.

ACS
Han, L.; Huang, Y.; Li, B.; Wang, W.; Sun, Y.l.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, W.; Liu, S.; Zhou, W.; Xia, W.; Zhang, M. The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics 2023, 13 (10), 3131-3148. DOI: 10.7150/thno.82553.

NLM
Han L, Huang Y, Li B, Wang W, Sun Yl, Zhang X, Zhang W, Liu S, Zhou W, Xia W, Zhang M. The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics 2023; 13(10):3131-3148. doi:10.7150/thno.82553. https://www.thno.org/v13p3131.htm

CSE
Han L, Huang Y, Li B, Wang W, Sun Yl, Zhang X, Zhang W, Liu S, Zhou W, Xia W, Zhang M. 2023. The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics. 13(10):3131-3148.

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