German researchers reported that violation of the synthesis of one of the blood proteins can become a reason of female infertility.
A team of scientists from Aachen University found out that plasma protein called fetuin-B affects the permeability of the outer shell of the oocyte.
The study showed that the rodents whose body was deprived of the ability to synthesize fetuin-B lost the ability to conceive. Thus there was no pathology in their ovaries.
Basing on this discovery, the authors of the study say that fetuin-B prevent too early hardening of the outer shell of the egg (in the fertilization process such hardening is necessary in order to prevent the penetration of "extra" sperm in the egg).
It’s possible that a number of cases of unexplained female infertility can be associated with a disturbance of synthesis of fetuin-B, and the creation of products for its stimulation will help some women to get rid of infertility.
