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.

Ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves protect the pre-pubertal spermatogonial cells from cyclophosphamide-induced damage.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Moringa oleifera Lam. is widely cultivated in Asian and African countries for its medicinal and dietary significance. The leaves are highly nutritious and are known to possess various biological activities.

Oocytes recovered after ovarian tissue slow freezing have impaired H2AX phosphorylation and functional competence.

It has been shown that oocytes isolated from ovarian tissue cryopreservation acquire DNA damage during the process of freeze-thawing. Using a mouse model, here we have investigated the functional competence and phosphorylation of H2AX (γ-H2AX) in germinal vesicle (GV) and parthenogenetically activated oocytes derived from conventional ovarian tissue slow freezing and vitrification techniques. The number of GV-stage oocytes with γ-H2AX foci was not significantly different between the slow-freezing and vitrification groups.

Laser-assisted hatching of cleavage-stage embryos impairs developmental potential and increases DNA damage in blastocysts.

This study aims to investigate the influence of two- (day 2) and six-to-eight-cell-stage (day 3) laser-assisted hatchings on the developmental potential and genetic integrity of the embryos. In this prospective experimental study, two- and six-to-eight-cell-stage mouse embryos were subjected to laser hatching using 1,480 nm diode laser, and then assessed for the developmental potential and DNA integrity in blastocysts. Similarly, four-cell-stage human embryos from 20 patients were also subjected to laser hatching, and then assessed for the developmental competence.