Extracellular vesicles in female reproduction: from basic research to application.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• In vitro embryo production (IVEP) bypasses the natural maternal environment, potentially compromising embryo quality and fertility.
• The female reproductive tract provides a dynamic microenvironment essential for oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development.
• Maternal-gamete and maternal-embryo communication are critical for successful reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the female reproductive tract in improving IVEP.
• To explore the potential of EVs in fertility treatments and diagnostics.
• To discuss the applications and challenges of using EVs in reproductive technologies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs) in reproductive contexts.
• Analysis of EV composition and function in follicular, oviductal, and uterine fluids.
• Evaluation of EV supplementation effects on IVEP outcomes.

Main Results:

• EVs from the female reproductive tract contain bioactive molecules that can restore maternal-embryo communication during IVEP.
• Supplementation with EVs has the potential to enhance embryo development, quality, and fertility outcomes.
• EVs can serve as biomarkers for reproductive health and facilitate novel drug/nucleotide delivery systems.

Conclusions:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a promising strategy to bridge the gap between in vivo and in vitro reproductive processes.
• EVs offer significant potential for advancing fertility preservation, genetic improvement, and reproductive research.
• Further research into EV applications could revolutionize assisted reproductive technologies and therapeutic strategies.