A Hippo-thesis: Can bacteria turn back reproductive time?

Lactobacillus gasseri and its exopolysaccharide reduce endometrial aging and enhance implantation in aged mice, suggesting potential to reverse reproductive decline.

• Why it matters: Fertility decreases with age partly due to endometrial aging, and current options to reverse this process are limited, impacting reproductive success in older women.
• What they did: Li et al. administered Lactobacillus gasseri and its exopolysaccharide to aged mice, observing reductions in endometrial senescence markers and improved implantation rates.
• The result: These findings imply that probiotic interventions could mitigate reproductive aging, though effects on human pregnancy outcomes require further investigation.