THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF CORTICOSTERONE ON THE DEVELOPING MOUSE EMBRYOS
Z.A. Shahidee, A. Nasibah and A.S. Nuraliza*
Abstract
THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF CORTICOSTERONE ON THE DEVELOPING MOUSE EMBRYOSZ.A. Shahidee2, A. Nasibah1 and A.S. Nuraliza1*
1Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA
2Institute of Medical Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA
ABSTRACT
Glucocorticoid secretion is a biological response to stress, which in excess suppresses reproductive function. Excess glucocorticoid caused accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a cell which lead to oxidative stress condition. This study aims to determine the effect of corticosterone (CORT) administration on the quality and development of embryos. Administration of CORT at the dose of 10 mg kg-1 body weight (BW) via intraperitoneal injection was carried out for 14 days. Embryos at two-cell stage were harvested after superovulation with gonadotropin hormone. The morphological observation and the in vitro development of embryos were accessed and monitored under the inverted electron microscope and the percentage of DNA damage was analyzed via comet assay. CORT increased the percentage of abnormal embryos at 2-cell stage as compared to control. Following in vitro culture the percentage of arrested embryo development at 2- to 4-cell stage, 4- to 8-cell stage and morula to blastocyst stage were significantly increased in CORT-treated group as compared to control (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively). It showed that the percentage of embryo development from 2-cell to blastocyst stage were reduced in CORT-treated group as compared to control. The percentage of DNA damage was significantly higher (p<0.01) in CORT-treated group as compared to control. Findings of this study indicate the CORT causes damaging effects to the developing embryos where it adversely affects the embryo quality and its development as well as proven to induce DNA damage in the embryo.
Keywords: Keyword 1, Keyword 2, Keyword 3
