Chronic stress causes ovarian fibrosis to impair female fertility in mice.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Chronic psychological stress is associated with impaired follicular development and ovarian dysfunction. Many aspects of this dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model, we investigate the influence of chronic stress on ovarian function and explore potential mechanisms. METHODS: A CUMS mouse model was constructed over eight months, covering the period from sexual maturity to the onset of declining fertility in mice. At the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th months of exposure to CUMS, behavioral and physiological assays, including the sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, and serum corticosterone levels, were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the stress model. Fertility and ovarian function were assessed by analyzing the estrous cycle, number of offspring, sex hormone levels, follicle counts, granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the expression levels of fibrosis markers. Furthermore, proteomic analyses were performed on the ovaries to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ovarian fibrosis induced by CUMS. RESULTS: With continued CUMS exposure, there was a gradual decline in both the ovary-to-body weight ratio and the number of offspring. Moreover, the percentage of atretic follicles was notably higher in the CUMS-exposed groups compared to the control groups. It is noticeable that CUMS triggered granulosa cell apoptosis and halted proliferation. Additionally, increased expression of α-SMA and Collagen I in the ovaries of CUMS-exposed mice indicated that CUMS could induce ovarian fibrosis. Proteomic analysis provided insights into the activation of specific biological processes and molecules associated with fibrosis induced by chronic stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that exposure to CUMS induces ovarian fibrosis, which influences follicular development and ultimately contributes to fertility decline. These findings offer novel perspectives on the impact of chronic stress on ovarian dysfunction.