1
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Feng M, Wang J, Zhao X, Du H, Dai Y. Novel Insight into the mechanism of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) impairing early follicle development. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 285:117043. [PMID: 39293100 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an artificially synthetic plasticizer, is a widespread environmental endocrine disruptor, which has raised substantial concern among the public about its potential reproductive toxicity effects. Taking large amounts of DEHP disrupts the normal functioning of the ovaries, however, the toxicological effects and the mechanisms by which DEHP impairs fetal folliculogenesis remain poorly understood. Our research aims to elucidate the associations between utero exposure to DEHP and fetal folliculogenesis in offspring. In this research, we monitored the spatiotemporal and expression levels of GDF9-Hedgehog (Hh) pathway-related genes during postnatal days 3-14, confirming initially the potential associations between defects in theca cell development and the downregulation of GDF9-Hh signaling. Moreover, utilizing an ovarian organ in vitro culture model, rescue validation experiments demonstrated that the addition of recombinant GDF9 protein effectively alleviate the theca cell damage caused by DEHP, thus supporting the aforementioned associations. In conclusion, our findings validate the significant role of the GDF9-Hh pathway in the enduring reproductive toxicity resulting from prenatal exposure to DEHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqian Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Jiapeng Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Hua Du
- Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College/Affifiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yanfeng Dai
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
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2
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Zhang C, Nie Y, Xu B, Mu C, Tian GG, Li X, Cheng W, Zhang A, Li D, Wu J. Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Mutation (LHR N316S) Causes Abnormal Follicular Development Revealed by Follicle Single-Cell Analysis and CRISPR/Cas9. Interdiscip Sci 2024:10.1007/s12539-024-00646-7. [PMID: 39150470 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-024-00646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal interaction between granulosa cells and oocytes causes disordered development of ovarian follicles. However, the interactions between oocytes and cumulus granulosa cells (CGs), oocytes and mural granulosa cells (MGs), and CGs and MGs remain to be fully explored. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), we determined the transcriptional profiles of oocytes, CGs and MGs in antral follicles. Analysis of scRNA-seq data revealed that CGs may regulate follicular development through the BMP15-KITL-KIT-PI3K-ARF6 pathway with elevated expression of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). Because internalization of the LHR is regulated by Arf6, we constructed LHRN316S mice by CRISPR/Cas9 to further explore mechanisms of follicular development and novel treatment strategies for female infertility. Ovaries of LHRN316S mice exhibited reduced numbers of corpora lutea and ovulation. The LHRN316S mice had a reduced rate of oocyte maturation in vitro and decreased serum progesterone levels. Mating LHRN316S female mice with ICR wild type male mice revealed that the infertility rate of LHRN316S mice was 21.4% (3/14). Litter sizes from LHRN316S mice were smaller than those from control wild type female mice. The oocytes from LHRN316S mice had an increased rate of maturation in vitro after progesterone administration in vitro. Furthermore, progesterone treated LHRN316S mice produced offspring numbers per litter equivalent to WT mice. These findings provide key insights into cellular interactions in ovarian follicles and provide important clues for infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Department of Hematology, Tangdu Hospital, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yongqiang Nie
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bufang Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chunlan Mu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Geng G Tian
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiaoyong Li
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Weiwei Cheng
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Aijun Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Ji Wu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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3
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Zöngür A. Evaluation of the Effects of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on Caenorhabditis elegans Survival and Fertility. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12010-024-05032-z. [PMID: 39088026 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-05032-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Di-2-ethylhexyl (DEHP), which is widely used in industrial products, is produced annually in excess of 2 million tons worldwide. DEHP is an endocrine disruptor and one of the major environmental pollutant chemicals (EDCs) in nature. There is some information about the effects of these products, which provide great advantages in every respect, on human health and the environment. In this study, C. elegans organism was used to evaluate the health and environmental risks of DEHP. The survival and fertility effects of DEHP on the C. elegans organism were examined and the results were evaluated. In the study, it was determined that DEHP not only shortened the survival time of C. elegans but also caused a decrease in fertility. DEHP (0.625 mM and 10 mM) caused a 23.2-30.6% decrease in fertility. Additionally, the LC50 (50% lethal concentration) value of DEHP was found to be 321 µg/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper Zöngür
- Gemerek Vocational School, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
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4
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Gao Z, He W, Liu Y, Gao Y, Fan W, Luo Y, Shi X, Song S. Perinatal bisphenol S exposure exacerbates the oxidative burden and apoptosis in neonatal ovaries by suppressing the mTOR/autophagy axis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123939. [PMID: 38593938 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is an emerging environmental endocrine disruptor capable of crossing the placental barrier, resulting in widespread exposure to pregnant women due to its extensive usage. However, the impact of perinatal maternal exposure to BPS on reproductive health in offspring and the underlying molecular mechanism remain underexplored. In this study, gestational ICR mice were provided with drinking water containing 3.33 mg/L BPS to mimic possible human exposure in some countries. Results demonstrated that BPS accelerated the breakdown of germ-cell cysts and the assembly of primordial follicles in neonates, leading to oocyte over-loss. Furthermore, the expression levels of folliculogenesis-related genes (Kit, Nobox, Gdf9, Sohlh2, Kitl, Bmp15, Lhx8, Figla, and Tgfb1) decreased, thus compromising oocyte quality and disrupting early folliculogenesis dynamics. BPS also disrupted other aspects of offspring reproduction, including advancing puberty onset, disrupting the estrus cycle, and impairing fertility. Further investigation found that BPS exposure inhibited the activities and expression levels of antioxidant-related enzymes in neonatal ovaries, leading to the substantial accumulation of MDA and ROS. The increased oxidative burden exacerbated the intracellular apoptotic signaling, manifested by increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9) and decreased expression levels of anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl2). Concurrently, BPS inhibited autophagy by increasing p-mTOR/mTOR and decreasing p-ULK1/ULK1, subsequently down-regulating autophagy flux-related biomarkers (LC3b/LC3a and Beclin-1) and impeding the degradation of autophagy substrate p62. However, the imbalanced crosstalk between autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress homeostasis was restored after rapamycin treatment. Collectively, the findings demonstrated that BPS exposure induced reproductive disorders in offspring by perturbing the mTOR/autophagy axis, and such autophagic dysfunction exacerbated redox imbalance and promoted excessive apoptosis. These results provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of autophagy in mitigating BPS-induced intergenerational reproductive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangshan Gao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wanqiu He
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yapei Liu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yixin Gao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wentao Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Administration for Market Regulation of Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Supervision for Edible Agricultural Products, Shenzhen Centre of Inspection and Testing for Agricultural Products, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Xizhi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Suquan Song
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China.
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5
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Wang JY, Zhang FL, Li XX, Zhu KX, Zuo N, Wang JJ, Shen W, Li L. Cyanidin-3- O-glucoside Mitigates the Ovarian Defect Induced by Zearalenone via p53-GADD45a Signaling during Primordial Follicle Assembly. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:16715-16726. [PMID: 37889105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEN) is well known as a kind of endocrine disruptor whose exposure is capable of causing reproductive toxicity in animals. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a derivative of cyanidin and owns multiple biofunctions, and prior efforts have suggested that C3G has therapeutic actions for reproductive diseases. In this article, a ZEN exposure model during primordial follicle assembly was constructed using the in vitro culture platform of neonatal mouse ovaries. We investigated the protective effect of C3G on ZEN-induced ovarian toxicity during primordial follicle assembly in mice, as well as its potential mechanism. Interestingly, we observed that C3G could effectively protect the ovary from ZEN damage, mainly by restoring primordial follicle assembly, which upregulated the expression of LHX8 and SOHLH1 proteins and relieved ZEN-induced DNA damage. Next, to explore the mechanism by which C3G rescued ZEN-induced injury, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The bioinformatic analysis illustrated that the rescue pathway of C3G was associated with p53-Gadd45a signaling and cell cycle. Then, western blotting and flow cytometry results revealed that C3G restored the expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) and cyclin D2 (CCND2) and regulated the ovarian cell cycle to normal. In conclusion, our findings manifested that C3G could alleviate ZEN-induced primordial follicle assembly impairment by restoring the cell cycle involved in p53-GADD45a signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Ya Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Fa-Li Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Ke-Xin Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Ning Zuo
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
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6
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Madsen JF, Amoushahi M, Choi CP, Bundgaard S, Heuck A, Lykke-Hartmann K. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase PDE8B reduces activation of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:378-388. [PMID: 37499226 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In the ovaries, cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) is a second messenger supporting the generation of steroids. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are regulators of intracellular cAMP, and therefore, potential regulators of ovarian function. Interestingly, the family of PDE genes are differentially expressed in human oocytes and granulosa cells from primordial and primary follicles, suggesting diverse roles. In this study, we addressed the functions of PDE3B and PDE8B in primordial follicle regulation using inhibitors of PDE3B and PDE8B in murine ovary primary in vitro cultures. Inhibition of PDE8B in ovarian cultures prevented primordial follicle activation, while inhibition of PDE3B had no effect on follicle distribution in the ovary, under the tested conditions. As cAMP levels may increase steroid levels, we assessed the protein levels of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and aromatase enzymes, and found that inhibition of PDE3B reduced StAR protein levels, whereas inhibition of PDE8 did not alter StAR expression in our murine ovary culture system conditions. Our results showed that ketotifen-induced inhibition of PDE8B can decrease primordial follicle activation, whereas we observed no effect of follicle distribution, when PDE3B was inhibited. Expression of the StaR enzyme was not altered when PDE8B was inhibited, which might reflect not sufficient inhibition by ketotifen to induce StAR alterations, or redundant mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stine Bundgaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders Heuck
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karin Lykke-Hartmann
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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7
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Sun J, Gan L, Lv S, Wang T, Dai C, Sun J. Exposure to Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate drives ovarian dysfunction by inducing granulosa cell pyroptosis via the SLC39A5/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 252:114625. [PMID: 36774801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to affect populations by disrupting the human endocrine system. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an EDC that is present in various consumer products. Exposure to DEHP could contribute to reproductive system dysfunction, with subsequent adverse female reproductive outcomes. Granulosa cells (GCs) play essential roles in ovarian function and fertility. To further reveal the underlying mechanism by which DEHP impairs female fertility and affects the normal function of GCs, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed. Transcript sequencing was used to identify genes that were differentially expressed in GCs after DEHP treatment. SLC39A5 was shown to be overexpressed in the DEHP group compared to the normal control group. DEHP treatment and overexpression of SLC39A5 activated NF-κB-related factors, followed by an increase in the transcript expression level of NLRP3. NLRP3 inflammasomes play crucial roles in pyroptosis by acting as sensors. Pyroptosis is a type of inflammation-related cell death associated with various diseases, including ovarian cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome. Activation of NF-κB contributed to the upregulation of pyroptosis in GCs, while pyroptosis factors were downregulated after the inhibition of NF-κB with JSH-23. The same phenomenon was also observed in a mouse model in which DEHP-treated mice had higher expression levels of NF-κB and pyroptosis markers in GCs. Moreover, this phenomenon could be partially reversed by the NF-κB inhibitor JSH-23. DEHP treatment also disrupted the normal expression of ovarian function-related genes and inhibited the proliferation of GCs. Reproductive system impairment was observed in mice exposed to DEHP. DEHP-treated mice had a lower body weight, smaller reproductive organs, fewer healthy follicles, and diminished ovarian reserve. Thus, DEHP contributes to ovarian dysfunction by inducing pyroptosis via the SLC39A5/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis in GCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lei Gan
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China
| | - Siji Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chaoqun Dai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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8
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Zeng F, Zhang L, Deng F, Lou S. Early-life exposure to di (2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate: Role in children with endocrine disorders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1115229. [PMID: 36846588 PMCID: PMC9950113 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1115229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Di (2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), has widespread concern due to its serious health hazards. Exposure to DEHP in the early stage of life affects fetal metabolic and endocrine function, which even would cause genetic lesions. To date, it is widely believed that the increasing incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes in adolescents is related to the impact of DEHP on glucose and lipid homeostasis in children. However, there remains a knowledge gap to recognize these adverse effects. Thus, in this review, besides the exposure routes and levels of DEHP, we further outline the effects of early-life exposure to DEHP on children and potential mechanisms, focusing on the aspect of metabolic and endocrine homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa Zeng
- Shenzhen Longhua Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Luodan Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fang Deng
- Department of Nephrology, Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Fang Deng, ; Shuiping Lou,
| | - Shuiping Lou
- Shenzhen Longhua Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Fang Deng, ; Shuiping Lou,
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9
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Li MH, Wang JJ, Feng YQ, Liu X, Yan ZH, Zhang XJ, Wen YX, Luo HW, Li L, De Felici M, Zhao AH, Shen W. H3K4me3 as a target of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) impairing primordial follicle assembly. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136811. [PMID: 36220427 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plastics additive that growing evidence indicates as endocrine disruptor able to negatively affect various reproductive processes both in female and male animals, including humans. However, the precise molecular mechanism of such actions is not completely understood. In the present study, scRNA-seq was performed on the ovaries of offspring from mothers exposed to DEHP from 16.5 days post coitum to 3 days post-partum, when the primordial follicle (PF) stockpile is established. While the histological observations of the offspring ovaries from DEHP exposed mothers confirmed previous data about a distinct reduction of oocytes enclosed in PFs. Focusing on oocytes, scRNA-seq analyses showed that the genes that mostly changed by DEHP were enriched GO terms related to histone H3-K4 methylation. Moreover, we observed H3K4me3 level, an epigenetics modification of H3 that is crucial for chromatin transcription, decreased by 40.28% (P < 0.01) in DEHP-treated group compared with control. When the newborn ovaries were cultured in vitro, the DEHP effects were abolished by tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor antagonist) or overexpression of Smyd3 (one specific methyltransferase of H3K4me3), in particular, the percentage of oocyte enclosed in PF was increased by 15.39% in DEHP plus Smyd3 overexpression group than of DEHP group (P < 0.01), which was accompanied by the upregulation of H3K4me3. Collectively, the present results discover Smyd3-H3K4me3 as a novel target of the deleterious ER-mediated effect of DEHP on PF formation during early folliculogenesis in the mouse and highlight epigenetics changes as prominent targets of endocrine disruptors like DEHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Yan-Qin Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Zi-Hui Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Ya-Xin Wen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Hao-Wei Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy.
| | - Ai-Hong Zhao
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
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10
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Gu X, Liu H, Luo W, Wang X, Wang H, Li L. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate-induced miR-155–5p promoted lipid metabolism via inhibiting cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in human trophoblastic HTR-8/Svneo cells. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 114:22-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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11
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Pogrmic-Majkic K, Samardzija Nenadov D, Tesic B, Fa Nedeljkovic S, Kokai D, Stanic B, Andric N. Mapping DEHP to the adverse outcome pathway network for human female reproductive toxicity. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2799-2813. [PMID: 35790550 PMCID: PMC9352620 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03333-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and AOP networks are tools for mechanistic presentation of toxicological effects across different levels of biological organization. These tools are used to better understand how chemicals impact human health. In this study, a four-step workflow was used to derive the AOP network of human female reproductive toxicity (HFRT-AOP) from five AOPs available in the AOP-Wiki and ten AOPs obtained from the literature. Standard network analysis identified key events (KEs) that are point of convergence and divergence, upstream and downstream KEs, and bottlenecks across the network. To map di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to the HFRT-AOP network, we extracted DEHP target genes and proteins from the Comparative Toxicogenomic and the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard databases. Enriched GO terms analysis was used to identify relevant biological processes in the ovary that are DEHP targets, whereas screening of scientific literature was performed manually and automatically using AOP-helpFinder. We combined this information to map DEHP to HFRT-AOP network to provide insight on the KEs and system-level perturbations caused by this endocrine disruptor and the emergent paths. This approach can enable better understanding of the toxic mechanism of DEHP-induced human female reproductive toxicity and reveal potential novel DEHP female reproductive targets for experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Pogrmic-Majkic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Dragana Samardzija Nenadov
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Biljana Tesic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Svetlana Fa Nedeljkovic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dunja Kokai
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Bojana Stanic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nebojsa Andric
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
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12
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Fletcher EJ, Santacruz-Márquez R, Mourikes VE, Neff AM, Laws MJ, Flaws JA. Effects of Phthalate Mixtures on Ovarian Folliculogenesis and Steroidogenesis. TOXICS 2022; 10:251. [PMID: 35622664 PMCID: PMC9143992 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The female reproductive system is dependent upon the health of the ovaries. The ovaries are responsible for regulating reproduction and endocrine function. Throughout a female's reproductive lifespan, the ovaries undergo continual structural changes that are crucial for the maturation of ovarian follicles and the production of sex steroid hormones. Phthalates are known to target the ovaries at critical time points and to disrupt normal reproductive function. The US population is constantly exposed to measurable levels of phthalates. Phthalates can also pass placental barriers and affect the developing offspring. Phthalates are frequently prevalent as mixtures; however, most previous studies have focused on the effects of single phthalates on the ovary and female reproduction. Thus, the effects of exposure to phthalate mixtures on ovarian function and the female reproductive system remain unclear. Following a brief introduction to the ovary and its major roles, this review covers what is currently known about the effects of phthalate mixtures on the ovary, focusing primarily on their effects on folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. Furthermore, this review focuses on the effects of phthalate mixtures on female reproductive outcomes. Finally, this review emphasizes the need for future research on the effects of environmentally relevant phthalate mixtures on the ovary and female reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jodi A. Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (E.J.F.); (R.S.-M.); (V.E.M.); (A.M.N.); (M.J.L.)
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13
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Feng YQ, Wang JJ, Li MH, Tian Y, Zhao AH, Li L, De Felici M, Shen W. Impaired primordial follicle assembly in offspring ovaries from zearalenone-exposed mothers involves reduced mitochondrial activity and altered epigenetics in oocytes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:258. [PMID: 35469021 PMCID: PMC11071983 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Previous works have shown that zearalenone (ZEA), as an estrogenic pollutant, has adverse effects on mammalian folliculogenesis. In the present study, we found that prolonged exposure of female mice to ZEA around the end of pregnancy caused severe impairment of primordial follicle formation in the ovaries of newborn mice and altered the expression of many genes in oocytes as revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). These changes were associated with morphological and molecular alterations of mitochondria, increased autophagic markers in oocytes, and epigenetic changes in the ovaries of newborn mice from ZEA-exposed mothers. The latter increased expression of HDAC2 deacetylases was leading to decreased levels of H3K9ac and H4K12ac. Most of these modifications were relieved when the expression of Hdac2 in newborn ovaries was reduced by RNA interference during in vitro culture in the presence of ZEA. Such changes were also alleviated in offspring ovaries from mothers treated with both ZEA and the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is known to be able to restore mitochondrial activities. We concluded that impaired mitochondrial activities in oocytes caused by ZEA are at the origin of metabolic alterations that modify the expression of genes controlling autophagy and primordial follicle assembly through changes in epigenetic histones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qin Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Ming-Hao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Yu Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Ai-Hong Zhao
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
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14
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Basso CG, de Araujo-Ramos AT, Martino-Andrade AJ. Exposure to phthalates and female reproductive health: a literature review. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 109:61-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Liu WX, Zhang YJ, Wang YF, Klinger FG, Tan SJ, Farini D, De Felici M, Shen W, Cheng SF. Protective Mechanism of Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Against Nicotine-Induced Damage of Mouse Early Folliculogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:723388. [PMID: 34557491 PMCID: PMC8452944 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.723388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that nicotine could impair the germ cell cyst breakdown and the primordial follicle assembly by autophagy. In this paper, we discovered that luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) could counteract the damage caused by nicotine of mouse germ cell cyst breakdown. The neonatal mice were separately intraperitoneally injected with nicotine, nicotine plus LH, nicotine plus FSH, and saline (control) for 4 days. Compared with the nicotine group, the quality of oocytes and the number of follicles were remarkably increased in the nicotine plus LH group or nicotine plus FSH group. LH and FSH could alleviate nicotine-induced oocyte autophagy by different pathways. LH reduced the nicotine-induced autophagy by restoring the phosphorylation level of adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase α-1, while FSH by downregulating the phosphorylation level of Forkhead box class O 1. In addition, in a subsequent study of 6-week mice in different treated groups, we found that LH and FSH supplementation significantly improved normal maturation rates, fertilization rates, and embryo’s developmental potential of oocytes in oocytes exposed to nicotine. Taken together, these results suggested that LH and FSH could counteract the damage caused by nicotine and finally ensure normal germ cell cyst breakdown and early embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xiang Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.,College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan-Jie Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Shao-Jing Tan
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Donatella Farini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shun-Feng Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.,College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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16
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Liu JC, Xing CH, Xu Y, Pan ZN, Zhang HL, Zhang Y, Sun SC. DEHP exposure to lactating mice affects ovarian hormone production and antral follicle development of offspring. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125862. [PMID: 34492810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used as a plastic additive and it could induce reproduction defects and fertility in mammals as environmental endocrine disruptor. However, the effects and potential mechanism of DEHP exposure during lactation stage on follicular development of offspring are still unclear. In this study, we found that the total primordial follicle number and antral follicles in the suckling of mice exposed to DEHP during lactation was significantly reduced. RNA-seq analysis results showed that the transcription levels of genes related to steroid production, ovarian hormone secretion and oxidative stress were significantly changed, which led to a decrease in 17β-estradiol and an increase in oxidative stress. The proportion of DNA damage marker γH2AX in the ovary of female suckling exposed to DEHP was significantly increased. We also found an increase in the level of ovarian apoptosis, and the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells was inhibited. These alterations also lead to abnormal spindle and chromosome misalignment during oocyte maturation. Overall, our data indicate that lactation exposure to DEHP can affect the secretion of hormones and the development of antral follicles in suckling mice by affecting the secretion pathways of ovarian hormone enzymes and oxidative stress pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Cai Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Chun-Hua Xing
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yi Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhen-Nan Pan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hao-Lin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shao-Chen Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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17
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Bharti D, Tikka M, Lee SY, Bok EY, Lee HJ, Rho GJ. Female Germ Cell Development, Functioning and Associated Adversities under Unfavorable Circumstances. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1979. [PMID: 33671303 PMCID: PMC7922109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present era, infertility is one of the major issues which restricts many couples to have their own children. Infertility is the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after regular unprotected sexual intercourse for the period of one year or more. Various factors including defective male or female germ cell development, unhealthy and improper lifestyles, diseases like cancer and associated chemo-or-radiation therapies, congenital disorders, etc., may be responsible for infertility. Therefore, it is highly important to understand the basic concepts of germ cell development including primordial germ cell (PGC) formation, specification, migration, entry to genital ridges and their molecular mechanisms, activated pathways, paracrine and autocrine signaling, along with possible alteration which can hamper germ cell development and can cause adversities like cancer progression and infertility. Knowing all these aspects in a proper way can be very much helpful in improving our understanding about gametogenesis and finding possible ways to cure related disorders. Here in this review, various aspects of gametogenesis especially female gametes and relevant factors causing functional impairment have been thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Bharti
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (D.B.); (S.-Y.L.); (E.-Y.B.)
| | - Manisha Tikka
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India;
| | - Sang-Yun Lee
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (D.B.); (S.-Y.L.); (E.-Y.B.)
| | - Eun-Yeong Bok
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (D.B.); (S.-Y.L.); (E.-Y.B.)
| | - Hyeon-Jeong Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0021, USA;
| | - Gyu-Jin Rho
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (D.B.); (S.-Y.L.); (E.-Y.B.)
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