Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive dicarbonyl compound endogenously produced mainly from glycolytic intermediates. Elevated MG levels in diabetes patients are believed to contribute to diabetic complications. MG is cytotoxic through induction of apoptosis. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of Curcuma longa, is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we examined the effect of curcumin on apoptotic biochemical events caused by incubation of ESC-B5 cells with MG. Curcumin inhibited the MG-induced DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, cleavage of PARP, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and JNK activation. Importantly, curcumin also inhibited the MG-stimulated increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these cells. In addition, we demonstrated that curcumin prevented the MG-induced apoptosis of mouse blastocysts isolated from pregnant mice. Moreover, curcumin significantly reduced the MG-mediated impairment of blastocyst development from mouse morulas. The results support the hypothesis that curcumin inhibits MG-induced apoptosis in mouse ESC-B5 cells and blastocysts by blocking ROS formation and subsequent apoptotic biochemical events.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive dicarbonyl compound endogenously produced mainly from glycolytic intermediates. Elevated MG levels in diabetes patients are believed to contribute to diabetic complications. MG is cytotoxic through induction of apoptosis. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of Curcuma longa, is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the effect of curcumin on MG-induced apoptotic events in human hepatoma G2 cells. We report that curcumin prevented MG-induced cell death and apoptotic biochemical changes such as mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, caspase-3 activation, and cleavage of PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase). Using the cell permeable dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) as an indicator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, we found that curcumin abolished MG-stimulated intracellular oxidative stress. The results demonstrate that curcumin significantly attenuates MG-induced ROS formation, and suggest that ROS triggers cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and subsequent apoptotic biochemical changes.

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This is the first evidence that retinoic acid induces cell death (apoptosis) and inhibits cell proliferation in mouse blastocysts. This results in the retardation of early postimplantation blastocyst development and subsequent blastocyst death.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin found in many foods worldwide, causes nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we explored the cytotoxic effects exerted by OTA on the blastocyst stage of mouse embryos, on subsequent embryonic attachment, on outgrowth in vitro, and following in vivo implantation via embryo transfer. Mouse blastocysts were incubated with or without OTA (1, 5, or 10 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation and growth were investigated using dual differential staining; apoptosis was measured using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay; and embryo implantation and post-implantation development were assessed by examination of in vitro growth and the outcome of in vivo embryo transfer, respectively. Blastocysts treated with 10 μM OTA displayed a significantly increased level of apoptosis and a reduction in total cell number. Interestingly, we observed no marked difference in implantation success rate between OTA-pretreated and control blastocysts either during in vitro embryonic development (following implantation in a fibronectin-coated culture dish) or after in vivo embryo transfer. However, in vitro treatment with 10 μM OTA was associated with increased resorption of post-implantation embryos by the mouse uterus, and decreased fetal weight upon embryo transfer. Our results collectively indicate that in vitro exposure to OTA triggers apoptosis and retards early post-implantation development after transfer of embryos to host mice. In addition, OTA induces apoptosis-mediated injury of mouse blastocysts, via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and promotes mitochondrion-dependent apoptotic signaling processes that impair subsequent embryonic development.

In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of curcumin, the yellow pigment of Curcuma longa, on the blastocyst stage of mouse embryos, subsequent embryonic attachment, and outgrowth in vitro and in vivo implantation by embryo transfer. Mouse blastocysts were incubated in medium with or without curcumin (6, 12 or 24 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation and growth were investigated using dual differential staining, apoptosis was analyzed with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and implantation and post-implantation development of embryos were measured by in vitro development analysis and in vivo embryo transfer, respectively. Blastocysts treated with 24 μM curcumin displayed significantly increased apoptosis and decreased total cell number. Interestingly, we observed no marked differences in the implantation success rates between curcumin-pretreated and control blastocysts during in vitro embryonic development through implantation with a fibronectin-coated culture dish. However, in vitro treatment with 24 μM curcumin was associated with decreased implantation rate and increased resorption of postimplantation embryos in mouse uterus, as well as decreased fetal weight in the embryo transfer assay. Our results collectively indicate that in vitro exposure to curcumin triggers apoptosis and retards early postimplantation development after transfer to host mice. In addition, curcumin induces apoptotic injury effects on mouse blastocysts through ROS generation, and further promotes mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling processes to impair sequent embryonic development.

This is the first evidence to show the impacts of RA on mouse blastocysts in vitro and any carry-over effects in the uterus. There is a retardation of early postimplantation blastocyst development and then subsequent blastocyst death. Our findings also show that there is some degree of selective induction of retinoic acid receptors when excess RA is administered to the blastocysts.