These protocols describe a detailed method to determine the DNA damage and F-actin and microtubule defects of metaphase II oocytes caused by hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). The protocol provides systematic steps to determine protein expression encoded by pluripotency proteins such as Oct4, Nanog, and Cdx2 during early embryonic development. Occupational or environmental exposure to EDCs has significantly increased infertility in both men and women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnvironmental and occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), causes female reproductive failures and infertility. Cr(VI) is used in more than 50 industries and is a group A carcinogen, mutagenic and teratogenic, and a male and female reproductive toxicant. Our previous findings indicate that Cr(VI) causes follicular atresia, trophoblast cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in metaphase II (MII) oocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious studies from our laboratory showed that prenatal exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), caused premature ovarian failure and decreased pregnancy rates and litter size. Exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause X-chromosome aneuploidy of the oocytes, increasing chromosome missegregation and risk of infertility, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and various genetic disorders. Cr(VI) is an EDC that is widely used in numerous industries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnvironmental contamination with hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), has been increasing in the United States as well as in developing countries. Exposure to Cr(VI) predisposes the human population to various diseases, including cancer, infertility, and developmental problems in children. Previous findings from our laboratory reported that prenatal exposure to Cr(VI) caused premature ovarian failure through p53-mediated mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study compared the morphometric, subcellular characteristics, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryonic developmental potential of metaphase II (MII) mouse oocytes obtained from females superovulated with either anti-inhibin serum-human chorionic gonadotrophin (AIS-hCG) or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)-hCG. The oocyte's quantity, quality, zona pellucida (ZP) thickness, perivitelline space (PVS), diameter, microtubules, F-actin, cortical granules (CGs) and mitochondrial distribution were determined. Superovulation using AIS-hCG resulted in a higher numbers of oocyte/donor compared with PMSG-hCG (P=0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGeneration of high quality mouse metaphase II oocytes is an integral part for efficient in vitro fertilization (IVF), and subsequent embryo production for reproductive studies and genome banking. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of various euthanasia methods on IVF, embryo development, and subcellular structures of MII mouse oocytes. Following superovulation regimen, female mice were euthanized by high flow CO (H CO ), low flow CO (L CO ), or cervical dislocation (CD).
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