Analysis of oocyte quality and reproductive capacity of rats exposed to nicotine: a comparison between damage after exposure in adulthood and in the intrauterine and lactation phases

• Grant number: 19/08976-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Embryology
• Principal Investigator: Camila Cicconi Paccola
• Grantee: Izabela Maria Mota de Freitas
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nicotine, one of the main toxic components of cigarettes, is able to increase the production of free radicals acting as a powerful pro-oxidant in biological samples. Because it causes oxidative stress, it can cause damage to the gametes, inducing the occurrence of morphological and metabolic alterations, thus compromising reproductive capacity. Since the total number of oocytes is established until birth in mammals, exposure to nicotine during gonadal development in the embryonic stage may irreversibly impair the future fertility, causing a reduction in the number of follicles and, consequently, number of oocytes available in adult life. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of exposure to nicotine on oocyte quality and reproductive capacity in different phases of exposure using Wistar rats as an experimental model, either in adulthood (F0 generation) or in the intrauterine and lactation phase (F1 generation). For this, nicotine will be administered by implanting an osmotic minipump (2 mg / kg / day) simulating human exposure to moderate levels of cigarettes. A comparison between generations will be carried out on the consequences of nicotine through possible morphological changes in oocytes, as well as evaluation of oxidative stress in ovarian cell DNA and analysis of the fertility and gestational indexes of adult rats.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PACCOLA, C. C.; SOUZA, G. S.; FREITAS, I. M. M.; SOUZA, J. C.; MARTINS, L. L.; VENDRAMINI, V.; MIRAGLIA, S. M.. oes maternal exposure to nicotine affect the oocyte quality and reproductive capacity in adult offspring. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, v. 426, SEP 1 2021. (19/08976-3, 17/06668-4)