The impact of ovarian foamy macrophages on the reproductive aging of VIP knock out mice

. L. GALLINO, V. HAUK, E. GRASSO, F. MERECH, L. CASTAGNOLA, A. SCHAFIR, N. PASCUALI, F. PARBORELL , M. MAY , J. WASCHEK, C. PEREZ LEIRÓS1 AND R. RAMHORST.

virtual

Congreso; Reunión Anual Conjunta SAIC-SAI-SAFIS.; 2021

SAIc-SAI-SAFIS

Background: Reproductive aging is proposed to be associated with a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (inflammaging), a dysfunction of immune tolerance with a detrimental impact on pregnancy. Since, VIP is an immunopeptide found in the reproductive tract with antiinflammatory effects inducing a tolerogenic response, we aim to understand VIP contribution to control inflammaging in order to prevent premature aging, particularly in the ovary.Methods: Animals used: VIP Knockout KO (-/-), deficient HT (+/-) and wild type WT (+/+) 3 or 8 months old in estrus. The serum hormones were measured with immulite Xpi Siemens platform. The ovaries were examined after histological staining and IL-1β secretion measured by ELISA. Phagocytosis assays of apoptotic bodies were monitored using light microscopy analysis to obtain foamy macrophages. Lipid droplets were stained with BODIPY and quantified by FACS analysis. Results: We confirmed that during reproductive aging WT females gain weight, show cycling disorders with lighter ovaries accompanied by altered levels of ovarian hormones in serum. These parameters were found to be exacerbated in young VIP KO mice behaving as WT animals of advanced reproductive age. Moreover, young VIP KO mice displayed an inflammatory ovarian microenvironment with increased IL-1β production (p