Advances in DNA Damage Repair and Ovarian Aging

ZHAO Simin, ZHAO Shidou*, QIN Yingying

(State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University; National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology (Shandong University), Ministry of Education; Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health; Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University; Research Unit of Gametogenesis and Health of ART-Offspring, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No.2021RU001), Jinan 250012, China)

Abstract:

Female fertility gradually decreases with age, and ovarian aging is one key reason for female sub-fertility. Women generally begin to experience ovarian aging around the age of 35 years, which is manifested as decline in both the number and quality of oocytes, leading to female sub-fertility or infertility. Genetic factors play an important role in ovarian aging. With the development of high throughput sequencing technology, the important role of DNA repair pathway in the establishment and depletion of ovarian reserve has been revealed. This article reviews the progress of DNA damage repair and ovarian aging, including the role of DNA damage repair genes in primordial germ cell development, oocyte meiosis and follicle maintenance and development, and their mutations in premature ovarian failure. In addition, this review discusses the related research on targeting DNA damage repair pathway to delay ovarian aging, hoping to provide new insights for female fertility protection.