Epitalon · research summary

Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro.

Aging · 2022. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

In vitro experimental study on mouse oocytes
“The current study aims to test the protective effects of Epitalon on the quality of post-ovulatory aging oocytes.”

Subjects

8-week-old ICR mice oocytes
“All 8-week-old ICR mice were purchased from SPF (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.”

Sample size

More than 30 oocytes per group
“Data from more than 30 oocytes were analyzed for each group.”

Duration

6, 12, and 24 hours of culture
“Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.”

Reported findings

0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in aged oocytes.
“We found that 0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species.”
Epitalon treatment decreased spindle defects and abnormal cortical granule distribution while increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number.
“Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.”
Epitalon reduced the rate of oocyte fragmentation and early apoptosis.
“Strikingly, 0.1mM Epitalon significantly reduced the fragmentation rate, from 13% in the aged group to 5.8% in the Epitalon supplement group”

Limitations stated by the authors

The study was conducted in vitro using mouse oocytes, and the applicability to human conception is not established.
“Whether Epitalon can improve the quality of oocytes and increase the chance of conception of non-reproductive age women needs further study.”

Source: PubMed 35413689 · DOI 10.18632/aging.204007 · all study summaries

Reported findings

0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in aged oocytes.

“We found that 0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species.”

Epitalon treatment decreased spindle defects and abnormal cortical granule distribution while increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number.

“Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.”

Epitalon reduced the rate of oocyte fragmentation and early apoptosis.

“Strikingly, 0.1mM Epitalon significantly reduced the fragmentation rate, from 13% in the aged group to 5.8% in the Epitalon supplement group”