A new mouse study suggests that ovaries remain biologically active even after they stop producing eggs. Instead of becoming inactive, post-reproductive ovaries appear to shift from supporting reproduction to regulating immune and inflammatory processes. Researchers found that aging ovaries lost their reproductive functions but became enriched with immune cells, including T cells and macrophages, while activating genes linked to inflammation and white blood cell activity. The ovaries also released signaling molecules that could influence the rest of the body. Although these findings still need confirmation in humans, they challenge the long-held belief that ovaries become inactive after menopause and may open new avenues for treating age-related inflammatory diseases in postmenopausal women.
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