Metformin promotes in vitro maturation of oocytes from aged mice

Our study demonstrates a protective effect for metformin against the decreased quality of aged oocytes to potentially improve ART success rates and illustrates a potential strategy to prevent or delay reproductive aging. The first-line type 2 diabetes treatment metformin has been associated with delayed ageing and reduction of oxidative stress; yet it remains unclear if metformin confers any benefits for aged oocytes, particularly in the context of the assisted human reproductive technology (ART) known as in vitro maturation (IVM). Here, we found that adding metformin into the IVM culture medium of aged oocytes significantly improves both oocyte maturation and early embryonic development.