PhD defence Li Meng

As female reproduction is tightly linked to body energy status, it is not surprising that disturbed energy metabolism may negatively influence reproductive performance. The overall goal of this thesis was therefore to investigate the effects of an altered energy status on ovarian follicular development in more detail, using two animal models with altered metabolic fluxes; a diet-induced thyroid hormone deficiency model affecting whole body metabolism, and a genetic model of increased nutrient flux towards skeletal muscle. The results of this thesis provide new insights in the mechanisms of follicular attrition and show that conditions that alter metabolic fuel use, influence ovarian follicular development and female fertility.