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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ovulation mitigates fatty liver associated with reproductive suppression and oxidative stress in Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis)

Christina M. Schmidt https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4627-8326 A C , Sandra Arbi B and Nigel C. Bennett A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x 20, Hatfield, Gauteng, 0028, South Africa.

B Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x 20, Hatfield, Gauteng, 0028, South Africa.

C Correspondimg author. Email: cschmidt@wells.edu

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 32(10) 923-928 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD20049
Submitted: 16 February 2020  Accepted: 18 May 2020   Published: 5 June 2020

Abstract

Oxidative damage is often linked to reproduction; however, reproducing female Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis) exhibit a reduction in oxidative damage relative to their non-reproductive, anovulatory, cohorts. Specifically, liver concentrations of malondialdehyde, a biomarker for lipid peroxidation, are significantly lower in reproducing females. We examined liver histology in reproductive, anovulatory and recently ovulating non-reproductive females, demonstrating an accumulation of lipid droplets only in the livers of anovulatory females and no fibrosis, cell death or inflammatory infiltrates in any group. Our observations suggest that anovulatory females experience a form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is reversed once they commence ovulation. We propose hormonal interactions that may underlie our observations.

Graphical Abstract Image

Additional keywords: histology, hormones, lipid peroxidation, NAFLD.


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