Early prepubertal cyclophosphamide exposure in mice results in long-term loss of ovarian reserve, and impaired embryonic development and blastocyst quality.

Background: Due to improved treatment, there is an increasing focus on the reproductive potential of survivors of childhood cancer. Cytotoxic chemotherapy accelerates the decline in the number of primordial follicles within the mammalian ovary at all ages, but effects on the developmental potential of remaining oocytes following prepubertal cancer treatment are unclear.

Objectives: To investigate whether cyclophosphamide (CY) exposure in the prepubertal period in female mice influences ovarian function and the functional competence of oocytes in adulthood.

Spent embryo culture medium metabolites are related to the in vitro attachment ability of blastocysts.

The metabolomic profile of an embryo culture medium can aid in the advanced prediction of embryonic developmental potential and genetic integrity. But it is not known if this technology can be used to determine the in vitro potential of inner cell mass (ICM) in adherence and proliferation. Here, we investigated the developmental potential of mouse 2-cell embryos carrying cisplatin-induced DNA lesions (IDL), beyond blastocyst stage using ICM outgrowth assay.

Sperm-mediated DNA lesions alter metabolite levels in spent embryo culture medium.

Paternal genetic alterations may affect embryo viability and reproductive outcomes. Currently it is unknown whether embryo metabolism is affected by sperm-mediated abnormalities. Hence, using a mouse model, this study investigated the response to paternally transmitted DNA lesions on genetic integrity and metabolism in preimplantation embryos.

Epigenetic changes in preimplantation embryos subjected to laser manipulation.

The advantage of using laser for assisted hatching in routine assisted reproductive technology (ART) practice is debatable. Recently, it has been shown that laser-manipulated mouse embryos had compromised genetic integrity. However, the impact of laser-assisted hatching (LAH) on the epigenetic integrity of the preimplantation embryos is not elucidated so far.

Unraveling the association between genetic integrity and metabolic activity in pre-implantation stage embryos.

Early development of certain mammalian embryos is protected by complex checkpoint systems to maintain the genomic integrity. Several metabolic pathways are modulated in response to genetic insults in mammalian cells. The present study investigated the relationship between the genetic integrity, embryo metabolites and developmental competence in preimplantation stage mouse embryos with the aim to identify early biomarkers which can predict embryonic genetic integrity using spent medium profiling by NMR spectroscopy.

Laser assisted zona hatching does not lead to immediate impairment in human embryo quality and metabolism.

Unlabelled: Laser assisted zona hatching (LAH) is a routinely used therapeutic intervention in assisted reproductive technology for patients with poor prognosis. However, results are not conclusive in demonstrating the benefits of zona hatching in improving the pregnancy rate. Recent observations on LAH induced genetic instability in animal embryos prompted us to look into the effects of laser assisted zona hatching on the human preimplantation embryo quality and metabolic uptake using high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology.

Influence of sperm DNA damage on human preimplantation embryo metabolism.

Understanding the embryo metabolic response to sperm induced specific abnormalities could help in developing the metabolic markers to prevent the transfer of embryos carrying sperm mediated defects. In this study, NMR based metabolic profiling of the embryo spent media was employed in 34 patients undergoing ICSI cycles. Processed ejaculates were tested for DNA damage using comet assay.

Sperm Chromatin Immaturity Observed in Short Abstinence Ejaculates Affects DNA Integrity and Longevity In Vitro.

Background: The influence of ejaculatory abstinence (EA) on semen parameters and subsequent reproductive outcome is still debatable; hence understanding the impact of EA on sperm structural and functional integrity may provide a valuable information on predicting successful clinical outcome.

Objective: To understand the influence of EA on sperm chromatin maturity, integrity, longevity and global methylation status.

Methods: This experimental prospective study included 76 ejaculates from 19 healthy volunteers who provided ejaculates after observing 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of abstinence.

Competitive electron transfer in a novel, broad-band capturing, subphthalocyanine-AzaBODIPY-C60 supramolecular triad.

A V-configured subphthalocyanine-azaBODIPY-C60 supramolecular triad has been newly synthesized, and sequential energy and electron transfer leading to the formation of charge separated states, useful properties relevant for solar energy harvesting and building optoelectronic devices, is reported.

Multistep energy and electron transfer in a "V-configured" supramolecular BODIPY-azaBODIPY-fullerene triad: mimicry of photosynthetic antenna reaction-center events.

A new photosynthetic antenna-reaction-center model compound composed of covalently linked BF2 -chelated dipyrromethene (BODIPY), BF2 -chelated azadipyrromethene (azaBODIPY), and fullerene (C60 ), in a "V-configuration", has been newly synthesized and characterized by using a multistep synthetic procedure. Optical absorbance and steady-state fluorescence, computational, and electrochemical studies were systematically performed in nonpolar, toluene, and polar, benzonitrile, solvents to establish the molecular integrity of the triad and to construct an energy-level diagram revealing different photochemical events. The geometry obtained by B3LYP/6-31G* calculations revealed the anticipated V-configuration of the BODIPY-azaBODIPY-C60 triad.

Ovarian tissue vitrification is more efficient than slow freezing in protecting oocyte and granulosa cell DNA integrity.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the primary treatment modality currently available to women at risk of losing their ovarian function due to cytotoxic therapy. However, the impact of these techniques on the oocyte DNA integrity is not elucidated. Here we have investigated the effect of vitrification and conventional slow freezing of eight week old Swiss albino mouse ovarian tissues on the oocyte and granulosa cell DNA integrity using the comet assay.

Germ cell abnormalities in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice do not correlate with blood glucose level.

Purpose: To assess the effect of streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia on germ cell integrity, DNA ploidy and methylation status for a period of two spermatogenesis cycles in adult male Swiss albino mice.

Methods: Streptozotocin injected mice were monitored for hyperglycemia at a regular interval for a period of 36 and 72 days. The DNA integrity in epididymal spermatozoa was determined by the comet assay.

NMR studies of preimplantation embryo metabolism in human assisted reproductive techniques: a new biomarker for assessment of embryo implantation potential.

There has been growing interest in understanding energy metabolism in human embryos generated using assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for improving the overall success rate of the method. Using NMR spectroscopy as a noninvasive tool, we studied human embryo metabolism to identify specific biomarkers to assess the quality of embryos for their implantation potential. The study was based on estimation of pyruvate, lactate and alanine levels in the growth medium, ISM1, used in the culture of embryos.

Effects of apoA-V on HDL and VLDL metabolism in APOC3 transgenic mice.

Apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) and apoC-III are exchangeable constituents of VLDL and HDL. ApoA-V counteracts the effect of apoC-III on triglyceride (TG) metabolism with poorly defined mechanisms. To better understand the effects of apoA-V on TG and cholesterol metabolism, we delivered apoA-V cDNA into livers of hypertriglyceridemic APOC3 transgenic mice by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer.

Mechanism of eNOS gene transfer inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is responsible for the production of nitric oxide (NO) in blood vessels. NO has been shown to be involved in the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. In the present study, the eNOS gene was transferred into rat aortic smooth muscle cells by using an adenoviral vector, and the effect of endogenously produced NO on VSMC proliferation was investigated.