Oocyte senescence: A firm link to age-related female subfertility

In women optimal fertility is maintained until 30 years of age and then decreases sharply. Therefore, the trend to delay childbearing until the fourth decade of life has contributed highly to the decline in total fertility rate observed in Western countries in recent decades. Much evidence supports the idea that age-related subfertility is mostly related to oocyte senescence. Based on the finding that maternal age negatively affects the storage of oocyte transcripts involved in major cellular functions, the present paper reviews the nuclear and cytoplasmic failure of the aged oocyte which can exert a negative influence on its developmental competence. Recognizing the potential role of oocyte-based technologies for improving clinical outcome for women with age-related etiologies of infertility, the importance of basic research aimed to increase knowledge of the aged oocyte and its microenvironment is also highlighted in order to set up new therapeutic strategies.