Effect of regular exercise on reproductive function of aged female in mouse model

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined whether regular exercise can improve ovarian angiogenic factors expression, oocyte quality, and fertility in aged female mice. Materials and Methods: Aged C57BL female mice (30-32 weeks) were treated with regular exercise or without exercise for six weeks and then mated with male mice. After mating, the pregnancy outcome was examined. Female mice of two age groups (6-8 and 30-32 weeks) were regularly exercised for six weeks. After superovulation, mating, and zygote retrieval, ovarian VEGF and eNOS expression, and ovarian apoptosis were examined. Results: The number of pregnant mice, offspring, and embryo development rate in aged mice were significantly higher in the exercise group compared with controls. Ovarian VEGF and eNOS expression was increased, but ovarian apoptosis was decreased in the exercise group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that regular exercise in aged mice improves oocytes quality and fertility, possibly by regulating ovarian eNOS and VEGF expression.