最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide research into the proper functioning of the ovary is revealing exciting new directions for improved fertility management, focused policymaking in relation to obesity, and even enhanced animal breeding.
The ovaries鈥 role in women鈥檚 health, and indeed in the transmission of life, cannot be overstated. As well as producing essential steroid hormones, they are the creators and distributors of oocytes, the precious 鈥渆ggs鈥 that form the foundation for every new embryo.
Despite ovaries鈥 importance, however, surprisingly little has been known about the mechanisms of their proper functioning. But ongoing research at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Robinson Research Institute is changing that; and in the process identifying new opportunities for improved fertility management, contraception and health policy.
The institute team has been investigating how the ovary generates oocytes and releases them for fertilisation, with particular attention paid to the influence obesity has on this function, and subsequent embryo development. According to lead researcher Professor Rebecca Robker, their work has already delivered critical insights.
鈥淲e鈥檝e discovered that obesity in females changes their eggs at the cellular level prior to them being fertilised,鈥 says Professor Robker.
鈥淭hese changes greatly increase the risk of their children becoming overweight, which clearly indicates the importance of women being a healthy bodyweight before 肠辞苍肠别辫迟颈辞苍.鈥
In addition to providing policymakers with valuable evidence for the need to place greater emphasis on programs that will prevent and reduce obesity in young people, Professor Robker says her team鈥檚 research has other positive implications.
鈥淏y learning how the cells of the ovary control the release of the egg, we can potentially develop new ways to approach female infertility disorders, such as anovulation鈥攖he inability to release an egg for fertilisation.
鈥淲e can also design novel contraception targets to block ovulation, and provide alternatives to the widely used hormonal contraceptives developed decades ago, which can lead to problems with long-term use.鈥
There are even applications for the discoveries in the area of animal reproduction, she says.
鈥淲e鈥檝e identified a cellular stress pathway that contributes to sub-fertility in dairy cows, which arises due to the profound weight loss they experience during lactation, and have found a way to reverse it.鈥
The institute team is continuing to develop its discoveries for practical clinical use and in agriculture.