Posted on 10/19/2023 8:51:43 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A woman's fertility normally decreases by her late 30s with reproductive function eventually ceasing at menopause. It is known that a small molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a critical role in this decline, and scientists have revealed how this happens and have identified potential new approaches to enhance reproductive longevity.
NAD+, which is present in all cells throughout the human body, begins to decline with age and maintaining optimal levels is vital for key cellular functions and healthy aging, said Perrone. Recently, it became clear that the same decline was occurring in the ovaries, contributing to the natural winnowing over time of egg numbers combined with reduced egg quality.
To uncover the molecular mechanisms regulating ovarian NAD+ loss, first the researchers began by adding another piece of the puzzle: CD38, an enzyme known to be one of the main culprits in degrading NAD+.
What happens during aging, Perrone explained, is that more CD38 is expressed, leading to more degradation of NAD+, which accelerates the aging processes.
The team found that CD38 was primarily found in ovarian immune cells and located in specific structures outside the ovarian follicles.
"We also saw that CD38 increases with age within the ovaries, which is the first time this has been shown," she said, noting that the more CD38 was present, the less NAD+ there was. "Discovering the missing link in the literature, showing that CD38 expression led to NAD+ decline, was the most exciting part."
Additionally, the team investigated a type of mouse that completely lacks CD38 and found that mice without CD38 have more "primordial follicles" which eventually mature to release an egg.
Showing that CD38 regulates ovarian function and fertility through NAD+ metabolism means that targeting this molecule may offer new approaches to enhance reproductive longevity.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“...links NAD+ to fertility problems”
infertility linked to a ‘nad problem. You can’t make this stuff up.
Every discovery helps find answers.
It would be amazing for those who have injuries to be healed or whose medical conditions would be linked to this.
My nads caused fertility problems so bad that i had four children.
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