Unravelling the Effects of Rapamycin on Reproductive Longevity on Female Mice
摘要
Rapamycin, classified as a mechanistic Target of Rapamycin inhibitor (mTOR), is a drug widely recognised for its potential anti-ageing properties; however, its impact on reproductive health remains uncertain.[10] This study investigates three groups of mice: young mice (20 weeks old), the control, and treated old mice (44 to 53 weeks old). The estrous cycle was observed over a 5-day period for all groups of mice in this experiment, with an additional 5 days of estrous staging specifically conducted for the old mice to see the effects of Rapamycin. The findings indicate that there is no change in the number of days that the mice experience estrus when treated. Furthermore, follicular count analysis revealed a reduction in the number of follicles in the Rapamycin-treated group compared to the vehicle group. These results suggest that Rapamycin treatment is not conclusive in reproductive health, therefore contrasting with the anti-ageing studies attributed to this drug.