Researchers discovered a drug that protects fertility and offspring in mice after radiation exposure. S1P-based pharmacological approach preserves ovarian function without propagating genetic damage.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has expressed deep concern over Italy's proposed policies on frozen embryos, which they claim are unethical and put women at risk. The proposals, set to be reviewed by the Italian Senate, limit embryo transfer to single births, posing significant risks to mothers and babies.
A compound called sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been found to block the destruction of ovarian egg cells by radiation therapy in animal studies. This protection was shown to be effective in female mice exposed to levels of radiotherapy that would otherwise have destroyed their ovaries.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered that chemotherapy treatment with doxorubicin causes mouse oocytes to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind female infertility after chemotherapy, potentially leading to new ways of selectively targeting cancer cells.