The trade-off between reproduction and resilience

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a transcriptional program that alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction by facilitating the recovery of the mitochondrial network. In Caenorhabditis elegans, reproductive maturity leads to suppression of the UPRmt, suggesting a trade-off between maintenance of stress resilience and fertility. Here, we examine emerging evidence suggesting that the reproduction-associated suppression of UPRmt is a representative example of the physiological costs of reproduction. We focus on the germline-to-soma intertissue signaling mechanisms recently identified in C. elegans, which modulate systemic physiological responses during reproduction. These findings not only illuminate the trade-offs between stress resistance and reproductive capacity but also underscore the broader implications of intertissue communication in coordinating resource allocation.