Pterostilbene enhances reproductive outcomes and oocyte quality in aged mice without adverse effects

Abstract

Aging is associated with a decline in oocyte quality, which reduces the likelihood of successful pregnancy and childbirth. Recent research has focused on dietary supplements to improve oocyte quality, with particular interest in resveratrol, a natural polyphenol. Pterostilbene, a dimethoxylated analog of resveratrol, has demonstrated greater physiological activity. This study investigates the effects of pterostilbene on reproductive outcomes in mice. Short-term (1-week) ingestion of pterostilbene by aged mice resulted in an increased implantation rate. In middle-aged mice, long-term (22-week) ingestion enhanced implantation and live birth rates, increased the number of ovulated oocytes, and reduced miscarriage rates, correlating with serum pterostilbene levels. Importantly, pterostilbene ingestion did not affect the estrous cycle or body weight, and offspring showed no health or reproductive abnormalities. At the cellular level, pterostilbene treatment improved mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels in oocytes, though it did not alter mitochondrial DNA copy number. Unlike resveratrol, pterostilbene did not inhibit decidualization in endometrial stromal cells. These findings suggest that pterostilbene effectively restores oocyte quality in aged mice and prevents age-related oocyte deterioration in middle-aged mice without adverse effects on the animals or their progeny.