What is the underlying aneuploidy associated cause of with increasing maternal age? Is it associated with elevated levels of gonadotropins?

Dursun P., Gultekin M., Yuce K., Ayhan A.

MEDICAL HYPOTHESES, vol.66, no.1, pp.143-147, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 66 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.mehy.2004.10.022
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.143-147
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aneuploidy is the most common chromosomal abnormality and also is the leading cause of early fetal loss and serious mental retardations. Except for the advanced maternal age, there is no clearly established factor for the development of aneuploidy. On the other hand, advanced maternal age is well characterized with elevated gonadotropin levels due to the decreased ovarian reserve. Such high level gonadotropins are also seen physiologically in the adolescent period. Both age groups may have an increased risk for having a baby with chromosomal abnormality. On the other hand, high doses of gonadotropins are widely used in artificial reproductive technologies (ART). Low pregnancy and high abortion rates in ART practices may be explained by higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the unfertilized oocytes maturated by high dose gonadotropins. Gonadotropins are also found to induce congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities in some animal studies. From this point of view, we hypothesized that gonadotropins might have a role in the development of aneuploidy.