Show-Me State Times

Researchers at the University of Missouri are investigating a process that could address reproductive complications in women caused by DNA damage. This damage, resulting from factors like ultraviolet rays and toxins, can lead to poor egg quality, infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, or genetic disorders.

Ahmed Balboula, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and a researcher at the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, leads a study focusing on autophagy. Autophagy is described as the body's natural defense mechanism that maintains cellular health by recycling components.

Balboula's research indicates that autophagy is less efficient in female eggs with moderate or severe DNA damage, which is more common among older women. "When autophagy activity decreases in DNA-damaged eggs or in maternally aged eggs, which have moderate DNA damage, there is an increased risk for aneuploidy," Balboula stated. Aneuploidy refers to an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell and is identified as a leading cause of miscarriage and congenital birth defects like Down syndrome.

The study also explored potential solutions. By stimulating autophagy in female eggs, researchers improved egg quality by reducing DNA damage and the likelihood of abnormal chromosome numbers. These findings may pave new paths for enhancing reproductive health in humans and animals.

"The deactivation of autophagy that we found is likely just one of many underlying mechanisms contributing to aneuploidy," Balboula noted. He plans to continue exploring other mechanisms affecting egg quality to further improve it.

Balboula joined the University of Missouri from the University of Cambridge in 2019 due to its strong reputation in reproductive biology research. "I knew this was the place to enhance my career," he said. He praised Mizzou's collaborators, resources, and research infrastructure for advancing their work.

The study titled “Increased DNA damage in full-grown oocytes is correlated with diminished autophagy activation” received funding from the National Institutes of Health.