Metformin augments major cytoplasmic organization except for spindle organization in oocytes cultured under hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic conditions: An in vitro study.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of antidiabetic drug metformin on the cytoplasmic organization of oocytes. Germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes were collected from adult female Swiss albino mice and subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM) in various experimental groups- control, vehicle control (0.3% ethanol), metformin (50 μg/mL), high glucose and high lipid (HGHL, 10 mM glucose; 150 μM palmitic acid; 75 μM stearic acid and 200 μM oleic acid in ethanol), and HGHL supplemented with metformin.

Haploid Parthenogenetic Embryos Exhibit Unique Stress Response to pH, Osmotic and Oxidative Stress.

Preimplantation-stage embryos are susceptible to various types of stress when cultured in vitro. Parthenogenetic embryos that lack spermatozoa contribution exhibit aberrant developmental dynamics due to their uniparental origin. Herein, we assessed whether the absence of paternal genome affects the susceptibility of the embryos to pH, osmotic and oxidative stress.

Genesis of fecal floatation is causally linked to gut microbial colonization in mice.

The origin of fecal floatation phenomenon remains poorly understood. Following our serendipitous discovery of differences in buoyancy of feces from germ-free and conventional mice, we characterized microbial and physical properties of feces from germ-free and gut-colonized (conventional and conventionalized) mice. The gut-colonization associated differences were assessed in feces using DNA, bacterial-PCR, scanning electron microscopy, FACS, thermogravimetry and pycnometry.

Artificial Activation of Murine Oocytes Using Strontium to Derive Haploid and Diploid Parthenotes.

Parthenogenesis is a common reproductive strategy among lower animals that involves the development of an embryo from an oocyte, without any contribution from spermatozoon. This phenomenon does not occur naturally in placental mammals. However, the mammalian oocytes can be artificially activated in vitro using mechanical, electrical, and chemical stimuli which can develop up to the blastocyst stage.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) protects the oocytes from methyl parathion-induced cytoplasmic deformities by suppressing oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Methyl parathion (MP) is a commonly used organophosphorus insecticide in commercial farming. It is well known that MP exposure can affect the function of nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. In our previous report we have demonstrated that MP exposure results in poor oocyte maturation and defective embryo development which is mainly mediated through oxidative stress.