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31 - Obesity and oocyte quality

from Section 5 - Pathology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2013

By
Rebecca L. Robker  and
Robert J. Norman
Edited by
Alan Trounson ,
Roger Gosden  and
Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter
Rebecca L. Robker
Affiliation:
The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Robert J. Norman
Affiliation:
The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Alan Trounson
Affiliation:
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Roger Gosden
Affiliation:
Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Cornell University, New York
Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter
Affiliation:
Universität Bielefeld, Germany
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Summary

Introduction

Obesity has become one of the most urgent nutritional and health issues of our time. Globally, the number of obese people is at a historical high with the incidence continuing to rise. Obesity is prevalent in young women [1] and latest predictions indicate that in the USA and UK 40–50% of women will be obese by 2030 [2]. A neglected complication of obesity is female infertility as well as increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (or PCOS), a prevalent endocrine disorder which manifests with both metabolic symptoms including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, as well as reproductive complications such as anovulation. Entering pregnancy in an obese condition predisposes both mother and fetus to significant health problems that can complicate an already risky pregnancy.

It is increasingly evident that obesity is a self-perpetuating transgenerational disease that is transmitted from mothers to the next generation. While obesity alters body metabolism and leads to consequences in multiple aspects of the reproductive system, this chapter will summarize the available data from experimental animal models and clinical studies showing an impact on oocyte developmental potential. This rapidly accumulating evidence, particularly from animal models, demonstrates that obesity affects oocyte maturation and the earliest stages of embryo development; alterations that have lasting consequences on the metabolism and developmental programming of the progeny.

Type
Chapter
Information
Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte
Role in Fertility, Medicine and Nuclear Reprograming
 , pp. 362 - 370
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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  • Obesity and oocyte quality
    • By Rebecca L. Robker, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Robert J. Norman, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
  • Edited by Alan Trounson, Roger Gosden, Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
  • Book: Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139135030.032
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  • Obesity and oocyte quality
    • By Rebecca L. Robker, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Robert J. Norman, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
  • Edited by Alan Trounson, Roger Gosden, Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
  • Book: Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139135030.032
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Obesity and oocyte quality
    • By Rebecca L. Robker, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Robert J. Norman, The Robinson Institute Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
  • Edited by Alan Trounson, Roger Gosden, Ursula Eichenlaub-Ritter, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
  • Book: Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139135030.032
Available formats
×