Biological Effects and Dose-Response Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Particles on In Vitro Early Embryo Development in Mice

Author(s)

Nicolosi Foltran Januario, Daniela Aparecida ^[1] ; Perin, Paulo Marcelo ^[2] ; Maluf, Mariangela ^[2] ; Lichtenfels, Ana Julia ^[1] ; Nascimento Saldiva, Paulo Hilario ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Expt Air Pollut Lab LIM05, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] CEERH Specialized Ctr Human Reprod, Div Reprod Med, BR-01239040 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pathol, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES; v. 117, n. 1, p. 200-208, SEP 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

An increased risk of early pregnancy loss in women briefly exposed to high levels of ambient particulate matter during the preconceptional period was recently observed. The effects of this exposure on early embryo development are unknown. This study was designed to assess the dose-response and biological effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on in vitro embryo development using the in vitro fertilization (IVF) mouse model. Zygotes obtained from superovulated mice after IVF were randomly cultured in different DEP concentrations (0, 0.2, 2, and 20 mu g/cm(2)) for 5 days and observed for their capacity to attach and develop on a fibronectin matrix until day 8. Main outcome measures included blastocyst rates 96 and 120 h after insemination, hatching discriminatory score, total cell count, proportion of cell allocation to inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE), ICM morphology, attachment rate and outgrowth area, apoptosis and necrosis rates, and Oct-4 and Cdx-2 expression. Multivariate analysis showed a negative dose-dependent effect on early embryo development and hatching process, blastocyst cell allocation, and ICM morphology. Although blastocyst attachment and outgrowth were not affected by DEP, a significant impairment of ICM integrity was observed in day 8 blastocysts. Cell death through apoptosis was significantly higher after DEP exposure. Oct-4 expression and the Oct-4/Cdx-2 ratio were significantly decreased in day 5 blastocysts irrespective of DEP concentration. Results suggest that DEP appear to play an important role in disrupting cell lineage segregation and ICM morphological integrity even at lower concentrations, compromising future growth and viability of the blastocyst. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/51746-1 - Effects of atmospheric pollution on initial embryonic development and on uterine receptivity: morphological and molecular studies
• Grantee: Daniela Aparecida Nicolosi Foltran Januário
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master