Natalia Brągiel, John Perrin, Wiesława Młodawska, Wojciech Niżański, Marzenna Podhorska-Okołów, Katarzyna Haczkiewicz-Leśniak, Michał Kulus, Małgorzata Ochota
Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, Wroclaw, 50-375, Poland.
Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 12;15(1):12668. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96983-8.
This study elucidates the impact of aging on the cellular architecture of feline oocytes, with a particular emphasis on organelles essential for fertilization and embryo development. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the research compares oocytes from prepubescent, cycling adult, and aged cats, revealing notable differences in the arrangement of key structures, particularly mitochondria, lipid droplets, and vacuoles. Oocytes from adult donors are at their metabolic peak, demonstrating a higher concentration of mitochondria near lipid droplets, supporting efficient energy metabolism. In contrast, younger and older oocytes exhibit larger lipid droplets and reduced mitochondrial density, indicative of diminished metabolic activity. These findings not only underscore the necessity of selecting an optimal donor age for in vitro fertilization but also suggest potential biomarkers for oocyte quality assessment. This novel insight offers promising strategies to enhance reproductive success, improve assisted reproduction outcomes, and support feline conservation efforts.
本研究阐明了衰老对猫科动物卵母细胞细胞结构的影响，特别强调了对受精和胚胎发育至关重要的细胞器。通过透射电子显微镜（TEM），该研究比较了青春期前、成年发情期和老年猫的卵母细胞，发现关键结构（特别是线粒体、脂滴和液泡）的排列存在显著差异。成年供体的卵母细胞处于代谢峰值，显示脂滴附近线粒体浓度较高，支持高效的能量代谢。相比之下，年轻和老年卵母细胞表现出更大的脂滴和降低的线粒体密度，表明代谢活性降低。这些发现不仅强调了为体外受精选择最佳供体年龄的必要性，还提出了用于卵母细胞质量评估的潜在生物标志物。这一新颖的见解为提高繁殖成功率、改善辅助生殖结果以及支持猫科动物保护工作提供了有前景的策略。
