[Age-related dynamics of SLC6A4 serotonin transporter gene expression and serotonin synthesis in ovaries.]

There is a worldwide trend towards an increase in the age of first-time mothers. Due to the social peculiarities of society, many women postpone the birth of children after the age of 30-40 years. This often leads to difficulties in conceiving and carrying a pregnancy. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging has important practical significance. Serotonin and its SERT transporter, encoded in humans by the SLC6A4 gene, play an important role in the functioning of the ovaries during various reproductive periods of women's lives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the age-related dynamics of the expression of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 and the synthesis of serotonin in the ovaries at different ages of women's lives. The study was performed on autopsy material from 164 ovaries obtained from people aged several months to 92 years. The synthesis of serotonin in the ovaries was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of the serotonin transporter gene was studied by PCR analysis. The level of serotonin in the ovaries of women decreases in aging, reaching minimum values after the age of 45, which may be associated with the onset of menopause. The same age-related trend was found for the expression of the SLC6A4 serotonin transporter gene. These data highlight the importance of serotonin and its SERT transporter for the assessment and development of prevention tools for age-related ovarian changes.