Age-related changes in ovarian function and morpholgy in Japanese monkeys

研究了圈养日本猕猴（Macaca fuscata fuscata）卵巢功能和形态的衰老相关变化，特别是生殖衰老。在实验1中，共57个非哺乳期的女性，年龄在3至32岁。采集至少一个繁殖季节的血液样本，并检查血浆LH、雌二醇和孕酮浓度的变化。在实验2中，在繁殖中期，对两组雌性动物（年龄较大的雌性动物，n=5，超过21岁;成熟雌性动物，n=5，年龄为8至12岁）皮下注射50 mg/kg苯甲酸雌二醇。实验三对47例从新生儿到28岁不等的非哺乳期女性的卵巢<greater than or equal>进行了组织学检查。在实验1中，5至20岁的动物的卵巢功能和生育率得到了良好的维持。绝经发生在27岁左右，接近寿命的终点。在实验2雌二醇治疗引起LH激增，在老年和成熟的女性。实验3中，原始卵泡数随年龄增长呈指数下降，16岁左右开始出现少量原始卵泡。初级卵泡和三级卵泡的数量在4 ~ 16岁时逐渐增加，然后逐渐减少。约40%的三级卵泡在一生中都是网状卵泡，其大小与发育中的三级卵泡相似。这些结果清楚地表明，卵母细胞的耗竭是日本人生殖衰老的一个关键因素

Age-related changes in ovarian function and morphology were studied in captive Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata), with special reference to reproductive senescence. In experiment 1, a total of 57 nonlactating females at ages 3 to 32 yr were used. Blood samples were collected for at least one breeding season, and changes in plasma concentrations of LH,estradiol and progesterone were examined. In experiment 2, two groups of females (older females, n=5, over 21 yr old, and mature females, n=5 aged 8 to 12 yr) were injected sc with 50 mg/kg of estradiol benzoate during the midbreeding season. Inexperiment 3, ovaries of a total of 47 nonlactating females of various ages ranging from new-borm to <greater than or equal>28 yr old were examined histologically. In experiment 1, ovarian functions as well as fecundity rates were well maintained in the animals aged 5 to 20 yr. Onset of menopause occurred at around 27 yr of age, approaching the end of the life span. In experiment 2 estradiol-treatment elicited an LH surge in both old and mature females. In experiment 3, numbers of primordial follicles per section decreased exponentially with the advance of age, and only a few primordial follicles were observed aftr about 16 yr of age. The numbers of primary and tertiary follicles increased from ages 4 to 16 yr, and then dicreased gradually. About 40% of tertiary follicles were atreticfollicles throughout life, and their size was similar to that of developing tertiary follicles. These results clearly indicate that depletion of oocytes is akey factor in reproductive aging of the Japanes