Ovules are extremely long-lived accompanying cells and depend on this ability to proliferate without excessive unwanted mutations in the process. One of the research team Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona found the formula to keep these cells alive and functional for half a century.

Limited edition.
Females of all mammalian species are born with a limited number of eggs. This means that a large part of their reproductive processes depend on the longevity of these cells. In the case of humans, these eggs manage to stay alive and active for about 50 years.

Take a step.
The key is in the process cells use to obtain their energy, a process that occurs in the mitochondria. Cells’ energy is “stored” in molecules called ATP. Five protein complexes are involved to create them.

The first four complexes carry an electron that is released when the first converts the NADH molecule to NAD+; a process that releases hydrogen and electrons that move from complex to complex through the mitochondrial membrane. The process generates an electrical potential in the mitochondrial membrane that completes this process, which activates the fifth protein complex and creates the ATP molecule.

The problem is that not all the electrons released in the first transformation remain in the membrane. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which produce some escapes, are highly reactive molecules that can damage the cell on the one hand and affect the genetic information contained in the mitochondria on the other, potentially causing mutations.

“Very surprising” results.
However, this process does not occur in eggs. Analyzing these cells, the team noticed that the electrical pulse on the surface of their mitochondria was weaker than normal.

Thus, they discovered that these cells are the only known cells in the animal kingdom to bypass the first of the steps and thus the filtration of ROS. This prevents not only the deterioration of the cell as a whole, but also the genetic information contained in its mitochondria.

Details of the investigation were recently published as an article in the journal. Nature.

longevity of cells.
It may seem like a trivial question, but the truth is that cells don’t usually live that long. If we consider other human cells, life expectancy can vary a lot. Pancreatic cells, like liver cells, live for about a year.

While most intestinal cells live a little over 15 years, there are heart cells that reach 40. The longest are the lens of the eye and neurons, but as we know, the latter can accumulate significant deterioration throughout our life.

Health problem.
For decades, the average age of conception for women in the developed world has been delayed, and a significant proportion of pregnancies have occurred after age 40. The study may also help understand why they get pregnant despite being lower than other cell types. occurs in the ovules at this age. Therefore, it can serve as the first step to prevent complications in these pregnancies.

Despite the overall decline in birth rates, fertility remains an important health issue. Many advances have made pregnancy a much safer process for both mothers and babies.

Despite this, high-risk pregnancies continue to be counted by tens of thousands in Spain alone. Therefore, a better understanding of these possible risk factors at the cellular level can therefore help avoid problems in the later stages of pregnancy.

Image | DrKontogianniIVF