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Posted by
on 2007-08-27 15:15:23
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'Fat Eggs' Causes Infertility In Obese Women
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on 2007-08-27 15:15:23
Smilie _WRITES: "
While obesity has long been thought to be a major factor in couples' inability to conceive, this is the first time the effects of obesity on the egg have been discovered.
The research findings - using female mice - have been made by PhD student Cadence Minge in the University of Adelaide's Research Centre for Reproductive Health.
Importantly, her research has also discovered a way to completely reverse the effects of obesity on mouse eggs, enabling afflicted eggs to develop into healthy embryos.
"Consuming a diet high in fat causes damage to eggs stored in female ovaries. As a result, when fertilised these eggs are not able to undergo normal, healthy development into embryos," Ms Minge says.
Ms Minge has discovered that a protein in the cells surrounding, supporting and nourishing the egg - called Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARĪ³) - is the main reason behind diet-induced infertility.
"The behaviour of this protein helps to determine the way in which the ovaries sense and respond to fats," Ms Minge says.
"Being able to control this protein will be very important in the quest to reverse infertility caused by poor diets."
Read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070823182738.htm
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