Effects of Aroclor 1254 on in vivo oocyte maturation in the mouse

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 11;9(7):e102064. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102064. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are stable, lipophilic compounds that accumulate in the environment and in the food chain. Though some studies provided evidence that PCBs had adverse effects on reproductive function, most of these results were from in vitro models. Therefore we investigated the effect of Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCBs mixture) treatments on in vivo maturation and developmental potential of mouse oocytes. In the present study, female ICR mice were treated with different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) of Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCB mixture) once every 72 hours by intraperitoneal injection for 9 days. After three treatments of Aroclor 1254, the mice were superovulated to collect oocytes one day after the last exposure. The effects of Aroclor 1254 on oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation embryonic development were investigated. Immunofluorescence-stained oocytes were observed under a confocal microscope to assess the effects of Aroclor 1254 on spindle morphology. Parthenogenic activation and the incidence of cumulus apoptosis in cumulus-oocyte complexes were observed as well. Oocytes exposed to different doses of Aroclor 1254 in vivo were associated with a significant decrease in outgrowth potential, abnormal spindle configurations, and the inhibition of parthenogenetic activation of ovulated oocytes. Furthermore, the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells was increased after exposed to Aroclor 1254. These results may provide reference for the treatment of reproductive diseases such as infertility or miscarriage caused by environmental contaminants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / pharmacology*
  • Embryonic Development / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fertilization / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oocytes / cytology*
  • Oocytes / drug effects*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine)

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (number 31101068) and Shandong Province Postdoctoral Innovation Project (number 201103102). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.