Mitochondria are small components in our cells that are best known as energy producers. Researchers are now discovering that these ‘power stations’ also play an important role in ageing and fertility problems. Scientists from the Buck Institute are starting a new study into a specific protein that regulates the division of mitochondria. This protein decreases as we get older, which is potentially linked to reduced fertility.
The study focuses on mice with lower levels of this protein that have poor fertility. These findings provide an indication that mitochondria may play a role in the ageing of the reproductive organs. Until now, the focus has mainly been on DNA damage in the cell nucleus as the cause of fertility decline, but mitochondria have been little investigated in this regard. By gaining a better understanding of how mitochondria change, the researchers hope to find new treatments to preserve fertility for longer.
Alongside fertility, the maintenance of mitochondria is important for overall ageing. If mitochondria function less effectively, the body's repair process slows down and age-related complaints arise. Knowledge about how mitochondria divide and function can therefore also contribute to the development of therapies that slow down the ageing process.
This research is valuable because it opens up new pathways to support healthy ageing and the longer preservation of vitality. By better understanding mitochondria, we may soon be able to better manage age-related complaints.
Source: Buck Institute
