US biologists manage to slow ovarian aging by using drug against pulmonary fibrosis

Biologists in the US found that the drug pirfenidone, which is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, slows down the aging of the ovaries and regulates the hormonal background associated with them. And its safer analogues can be used in order to increase women's fertility, informed the press service of Northwestern University in Chicago, USA.

The drug has dangerous side effects, including a toxic effect on the liver. But the experiments have shown that it can be used in order to prevent the aging of the ovaries and improve their work, said Francesca Duncan, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (reproductive science in medicine) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Duncan and some other experts came to such a conclusion after they used various drugs during the examination of the ovaries of female mice, which were able to suppress the occurrence of inflammation and the formation of fibrosis in various organs of the human body. Scientists have discovered that ovarian aging and menopause are accompanied by the growth of inflammation and the formation of fibrotic tissue in these organs.

The biologists tried to determine whether these processes could be suppressed by injecting two existing drugs, pirfenidone and etanercept, which are used in order to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, into ovarian tissue. Studies have shown that etanercept did not have a positive effect on the cells and organs of animals, while pirfenidone considerably slowed the aging of ovaries in female mice and prevented their transformation into fibrotic tissue. This led to the regulation of the hormonal background and an increase in the number of follicles compared to individuals of the control group.

The successful completion of those experiments, as noted by Duncan, enables to expect that safer analogues of pirfenidone for women's health will be created, the reception of which will improve the reproductive health of patients, as well as prolong the time until menopause and the changes in sex hormones associated with it.