Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 S44.3

Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.


Since menarche is the landmark for the beginning of fertility and menopause marks the end of a women’s reproductive lifespan genetics of fertility as well as infertility will be discussed taking recent GWAS data on both menarche and menopause into account.

Recently, 30 new loci for age at menarche were identified in a meta-analysis of 32 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in women of European descent. In addition to two known loci the new loci included four genes previously associated with body mass index, three in or near other genes implicated in energy homeostasis and three in or near genes implicated in hormonal regulation of the ovary. Similarly, in a recent meta-analysis of 22 GWAS 13 newly genetic loci involved in the occurrence of natural menopause were identified. Candidate genes located at these newly associated loci include genes implicated in DNA repair and immune function. The finding that the innate immune response can be upregulated in response to DNA damage suggests that interplay between the two main pathways we identified (DNA repair and inflammation) may contribute to variation in age at natural menopause. Surprisingly there were only very few genes identified which might be involved in folliculogenesis. Three of the 17 regions can be linked to hormonal regulation, an additional route to follicle pool exhaustion.

In summary, our findings demonstrate a pivotal role of genes that regulate DNA repair and immune function in regulating age at menopause, indicating that the process of ageing is involved in both somatic and germ line aging. During this lecture the old dogma that regarding the cause of menopause will be challenged and evidence will be provided to support the theory that ageing of the soma initiates the cessation of ovarian function rather than the ovary itself.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

Browse other volumes

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.

My recently viewed abstracts