by University of California, Irvine

Fig. 1. Effects of PM_2.5 exposure on ovarian follicle numbers: 3-month old female mice were exposed to concentrated ambient PM_2.5 or filtered air 4 h per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks and were euthanized 24 h after the last exposure day for enumeration of ovarian follicles as described in Methods. Graphs show the means ± SEM number of follicles per ovary. A Healthy primordial and primary follicle numbers were significantly decreased in PM_2.5 exposed mice compared to air controls. B Healthy, but not atretic, secondary follicle numbers were significantly decreased in PM_2.5 exposed mice compared to air controls. C Neither healthy, nor atretic antral follicle numbers were significantly changed in PM_2.5 exposed mice compared to air controls. *P < 0.05 compared to air controls. N = 20/group. Credit: DOI: 10.1186/s12989-021-00445-8

A type of air pollution known as fine particulate matter or PM_2.5, can cause loss of ovarian function in female mice, due to depleted primordial, primary and secondary follicles, according to a recent study led by Ulrike Luderer, MD, Ph.D., UCI professor of environmental and occupational health and corresponding author. Premature ovarian failure, often called premature menopause, is associated with an increased risk of negative health outcomes in women, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The team's findings, published online in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, showed that PM_2.5 exposure in mice disrupts ovarian follicle growth, a cellular process essential to development of the female reproductive system. "Up until this point, there's been very little research in this area on the links between air pollution exposure and ovarian function, which is linked to other adverse health effects in women," Luderer says. "Our team aims to fill gaps in the literature and bring visibility to the subject."

More information: Ulrike Luderer et al, Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) depletes the ovarian follicle reserve and causes sex-dependent cardiovascular changes in apolipoprotein E null mice, Particle and Fibre Toxicology (2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12989-021-00445-8

Provided by University of California, Irvine