Reflection

The assignment of the general audience paper was about translating a scholarly article to a more general audience focus. Newspapers and articles like to translate scholarly articles for a general audience because it can share major findings for a more public audience and it was supposed to be easy to understand and explain difficult words that scientists may have used during the scholarly article. The skills that I have acquired from this assignment was how I was able to translate scientific vocabulary and apply it for my own writing regarding the scholarly article and the understanding of the resources and visuals presented in this one. Another skill improved was to acknowledge your and others’ range of linguistic differences as resources and draw on those resources to develop rhetorical sensibility since you needed to know how to address a general audience. 

 Sleep deprivation may lead to lower reproduction rates, But a way to solve this problem was found 

Based on the National sleep foundation 6 out of every 10 American adults do not get enough sleep. Nearly 4 in 10 adults have trouble falling asleep 3 or more nights per week(NSF 2025). This increasing rate of Americans being unable to sleep can also have consequences that might not be visible but can cause serious issues later. By shortening sleep hours, you are directly affecting yourself. Sleep deprivation is recognized as a public concern for a major public.

A recent article by Qunying Fang et all(2026) has found that sleep deprivation is a direct cause to impair follicular development. The researchers also explained a way to resolve this problem for the people that suffer from sleep deprivation. What the researchers mean by follicular development is specifically ovarian development, hormonal imbalances, decrease of oocyte retrieval (which is a cell involved in sexual reproduction), and reduced pregnancy rates. All these negative impacts on the reproductive system make a good sleep crucial for reproductive health.

Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and a clinical sleep specialist from the American Academy of Sleep, expresses how sleep is not an option but rather a necessity for health.

Qunying Fang et all(2026) drew the data from female mice who were subjected to 48 hours of continuous sleep deprivation through the curling prevention of water or CPW which is a method that forces rodents to stay awake. An analysis of the results revealed that sleep deprivation created ovarian inflammatory damage and impaired follicular development.

For results the the researchers decided to look under a microscope ovarian tissues before and after sleep deprivation. The researchers observed that after sleep deprivation the ovarian tissues had a significant change in composition. The change of composition in the ovarian tissues also led to reduction of Oocyte cell quality and a higher breakage of DNA inside of these cells. Oocyte cells are like seeds in a garden, waiting for the right conditions (fertilization) to start growing into something more complex, which is life. Oocyte cells are really important because they are supposed to fuse with a sperm cell during fertilization and without the oocyte cell sexual reproduction can not happen. 

The effects of the sleep deprivation later on were alleviated by anti-flammatory treatments like acetaminophen by slowing down the genes S100A8/A9 signaling. These genes are part of the immune system and they are in charge of creating inflammation so the body can fight germs and heal, make immune cells respond and alert the immune system of injuries, infections or stress. Slowing down these genes were a direct cause for a decrease in inflammation. 

The research also explores the effect of sleep deprivation in granulosa cells and how these cells play an important role for the reproductive system. Granulosa cells or follicular cells are cells in charge of directly communicating with oocyte cells through intercellular gap junctions, which are tunnels used for direct communication between adjacent cells, these tunnels are used by the granulosa cell to deliver nutrients and support oocyte cells. Granulosa cells act as suppliers and communicators inside of our bodies and the death of these ones are directly related to follicular dysfunction.

Based on the Cleveland clinic “Granulosa cells play a key role in the female reproductive system. They help you get and stay pregnant”(Cleveland clinic 2022). Cleveland clinics are making it clear the connection of granulosa cells with fertility. Based on the national center for health statistics the percent of women ages 15-49 who have infertility is 8.5%. A percent that might be seen as small now but will increase over time by the amount of people who are not having good sleep in their daily lives. 

The result of the research after the death of granulosa cells showed the disorganization of the structures of oocytes cells and also an increase of abnormal intracellular mitochondria. The mitochondria in cells have the function of providing energy and if this one is abnormal it could have functional defects, making the cell face serious problems because of the lack of energy production. 

Sleep deprivation is a direct cause of many reproductive problems by the change of composition of ovarian tissues or the death of granulosa cells but what would be a perfect sleep to avoid the effects of sleep deprivation?

Based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it is actually easy to achieve a healthy sleep and the person will see how a good sleep not only maintains their well-being but also their mental health. 

The first thing to have in mind is that adults ages 18 or older are recommended to sleep 7-8 hours a day and the following steps before going to bed to ensure a good sleep. The first step is to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday, and try to use this same sleep schedule on weekdays and weekends. The next step is to avoid any hard workout or device usage before going to sleep because it may signal to the brain that it is time to stay awake. Avoid heavy meals, nicotine( mostly found in cigarettes) or caffeine. The next step is to keep your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark. Lastly is to take a hot bat before bed or use relaxation techniques. These steps will make your mind and body healthy by having a good sleep.

Even though results were clear for the researchers this is considered a new focus for them on how sleep deprivation affects the reproductive system and they considered on how to have enough support and evidence is needed to do more research on the topic. Qunying Fang et all(2026) directly said that “the underlying biological mechanisms linking sleep deprivation to reproductive dysfunction remain unclear”. 

But results were more than clear to show the effects of sleep deprivation so it is better to question if it is worth it to sacrifice sleep or protect the reproductive system.

                                                             References 

Cleveland Clinic. 2022 Mar 18. Granulosa cells. Heal Libr. [accessed 2026 Mar 19]

https://dev.mycc.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22528-granulosa-cells

CDC/National Center for Health Statistics. 2026 Jan 12. Infertility. Rep Heal. [accessed 2026 Mar 19]

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infertility.htm

Fan QU, Lu LE, Jin RE, Wang YA, Wang JI, Oi JI, Meng YE, Shi BA, Qiao ZO, Li FA, Et al. Sleep deprivation impairs follicular development attributable to granulosa cell pyroptosis mediated by S100A8/A9 M1 polarization. Sci Adv. Science. 2026 Feb 27 [accessed 2026 March 4].  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ady4767

National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America. 2025 Mar 6. People with better sleep health are most likely to flourish. Sleep. [accessed 2026 Mar 19]