N-acetyl-L-cysteine Improves the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos Cultured In Vitro by Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis.

Oxidative stress has been suggested to negatively affect oocyte and embryo quality and developmental competence, resulting in failure to reach full term. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeating antioxidant, on developmental competence and the quality of oocytes and embryos upon supplementation (0.1-10 mM) in maturation and culture medium in vitro using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes and embryos.

Risk of congenital malformations in offspring of women using β-blockers during early pregnancy: An updated meta-analysis of observational studies.

Aims: Beta-blockers are commonly used to treat hypertension that arises during pregnancy. However, reproductive safety concerns have been expressed. Here, we investigated whether the use of β-blockers during early pregnancy increased the risk of congenital malformations.

Activation of ERα and/or ERβ ameliorates cognitive impairment and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are thought to be associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative injuries and diseases, but the relationship and mechanisms underlying between ERs and cognition in type 1 diabetes remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated the effects of ERα and ERβ on the memory impairment and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. We found that ERα and/or ERβ activation using their agonists (0.

Effect of potential role of p53 on embryo development arrest induced by HO in mouse.

During mammalian embryo development in vitro, mechanism of embryonic development arrest caused by oxidative stress has not been clear so far. The tumor suppressor protein p53 controls cell cycle and programmed cell death by regulating relevant signal pathway. Recent researches revealed that the concentration and distribution of p53 are closely related with reactive oxygen species (ROS).