Understanding Reproductive Aging in Wildlife to Improve Animal Conservation and Human Reproductive Health

Abstract

Similar to humans and laboratory animals, reproductive aging is observed in wild species-from small invertebrates to large mammals. Aging issues are also prevalent in rare and endangered species under human care as their life expectancy is longer than in the wild. The objectives of this review are to (1) present conserved as well as distinctive traits of reproductive aging in different wild animal species (2) highlight the value of comparative studies to address aging issues in conservation breeding as well as in human reproductive medicine, and (3) suggest next steps forward in that research area. From social insects to mega-vertebrates, reproductive aging studies as well as observations in the wild or in breeding centers often remain at the physiological or organismal scale (senescence) rather than at the germ cell level. Overall, multiple traits are conserved across very different species (depletion of the ovarian reserve or no decline in testicular functions), but unique features also exist (endless reproductive life or unaltered quality of germ cells). There is a broad consensus about the need to fill research gaps because many cellular and molecular processes during reproductive aging remain undescribed. More research in male aging is particularly needed across all species. Furthermore, studies on reproductive aging of target species in their natural habitat (sentinel species) are crucial to define more accurate reproductive indicators relevant to other species, including humans, sharing the same environment. Wild species can significantly contribute to our general knowledge of a crucial phenomenon and provide new approaches to extend the reproductive lifespan.