Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro.

Yue X, Liu SL, Guo JN, Meng TG, Zhang XR, Li HX, Song CY, Wang ZB, Schatten H, Sun QY, Guo XP

Aging12 Apr 2022Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID35413689PMCIDPMC9037278DOI10.18632/aging.204007PepBankPUB-35413689

Summary

The developmental potential of oocytes decreases with time after ovulation in vivo or in vitro. Epitalon is a synthetic short peptide made of four amino acids (alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and glycine), based on a natural peptide called epithalamion extracted from the pineal gland. It is a potent antioxidant, comparable to melatonin, that may confer longevity benefits. The current study aims to test the protective effects of Epitalon on the quality of post-ovulatory aging oocytes. Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture. We found that 0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species. Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging. Our results suggest that Epitalon can delay the aging process of oocytes in vitro via modulating mitochondrial activity and ROS levels.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro, 0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon lowered reactive oxygen species inside the cells.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
DecreaseIntracellular reactive oxygen species
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Aging markers · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
We found that 0.1mM Epitalon reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368901
02LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro for 12h and 24h, Epitalon significantly decreased the frequency of spindle defects.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon reduced spindle defects.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
DecreaseFrequency of spindle defects
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Aging markers · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368902
03LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro for 12h and 24h, Epitalon significantly decreased abnormal distribution of cortical granules.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon reduced abnormal placement of cortical granules.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
DecreaseAbnormal distribution of cortical granules
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Aging markers · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368903
04LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro, Epitalon increased mitochondrial membrane potential.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon raised mitochondrial membrane potential.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
IncreaseMitochondrial membrane potential
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368904
05LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro, Epitalon increased the DNA copy number of mitochondria.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon raised the mitochondrial DNA copy number.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
IncreaseMitochondrial DNA copy number
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368905
06LabEx vivo tissueEfficacy outcome
In mouse oocytes aging in vitro, Epitalon decreased apoptosis of oocytes by 24h.
In plain wordsIn mouse egg cells aging in lab culture, Epitalon reduced cell death by 24 hours.
Peptide
Epitalon
Outcome
DecreaseOocyte apoptosis at 24h
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Mouse oocytes aging in vitro
Outcome group
Aging markers · Aging and longevity
Studied dose
0.1mM · added to culture medium · 6h, 12h and 24h of cultureAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Epitalon treatment significantly decreased frequency of spindle defects and abnormal distribution of cortical granules during aging for 12h and 24h, while increased mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA copy number of mitochondria, thus decreasing apoptosis of oocytes by 24h of in vitro aging.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Epitalon at 0.1mM was added to the culture medium, and the quality of oocytes was evaluated at 6h, 12h, and 24h of culture.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3541368906

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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