Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in human follicular fluid impair in vitro oocyte developmental competence

Abstract

An overall higher EDC contamination in the follicular micro-environment was associated with a decreased fertilization rate and consequently with a lower chance of an oocyte to develop into a high-quality embryo. In addition, EDC concentrations in serum were reliable predictors of the contamination status of the follicular micro-environment.

Role of Environmental Factors and Gonadotoxin Exposure in Unexplained Female Infertility

“…Maternal serum PCB concentrations have been documented during critical windows of development, including the periconception interval and early pregnancy [104], and PCB levels are detectable within human follicular fluid [105,106]. More recently, follicular fluid and serum PCBs have been associated with reduced oocyte fertilization [107] and with reduced embryo implantation during IVF [108], although a systematic review concluded that the epidemiologic evidence to date is insufficient to support a causal association [109].…”

Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKN1, CDKN5) in developmentally competent and incompetent porcine oocytes

“…Oocytes characterised by a decreased developmental competence have a low ability to reach the embryo stage and their development is disturbed (Nemcova et al 2006;Petro et al 2012). There are numerous published data regarding the assessment of developmental competence of oocytes of several mammalian species, including cows, pigs and dogs.…”

“…However, maturation in vivo differs significantly from in vitro maturation, even if both of these processes are determined by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The extrinsic factors consist of the follicular/ovarian environment, which includes concentration and presence of several proteins, hormones, and metabolites important for proper growth and differentiation of COCs during folliculogenesis as well as normal development (Petro et al 2012). The conditions of maturation in vitro can, however, only mimic the in vivo environment.…”

Improved Efficiency of Microsurgical Enucleated Tripronuclear Zygotes Development and Embryonic Stem Cell Derivation by Supplementing Epidermal Growth Factor, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1

“…Varnagy also demonstrated that the concentration of resistin factor was beneficial with regard to the outcome of IVF [37]. Moreover, Petro et al proved that the fertilization rate was decreased and, consequently, with a lower chance of an oocyte to develop into a high-quality embryo if there are higher concentration endocrine disruptors in a follicle micro-environment [38]. Thus, these studies indicated that these autocined or paracined factors are responsible for the oocytes and the resultant embryo development in mammals, and the dilution of these factors which are released by the embryos in the culture medium would probably result in the reduction of developmental competence.…”