Postmenopausal Ovaries Keep Remodeling for Decades

Scientists once viewed the postmenopausal ovary as a quiet, fibrotic organ that stops releasing eggs and then sits idle. A study by Northwestern University and the Buck Institute used high‑resolution proteomics on 28 healthy ovarian samples from women aged 50 to 75. By applying data‑independent acquisition mass spectrometry, the researchers quantified 5,812 protein groups and then used differential‑abundance testing, multivariate modeling and pathway mapping to track changes over time.

The analysis revealed a steady shift from cellular maintenance to active remodeling. Women in their 50s had more proteins linked to RNA processing, gene regulation and tissue structure, while those 70 and older showed stronger signals of lipid metabolism and innate immune activity. The team defined a 26‑protein BuckPOMS signature that marks loss of epithelial programs and gain of extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammatory signaling and complement activation. These findings suggest the ovary may influence broader systemic aging rather than simply ending reproductive function.