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Li X, Wang Z, Wang H, Xu H, Sheng Y, Lian F. Role of N-acetylcysteine treatment in women with advanced age undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles: A prospective study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:917146. [PMID: 36267623 PMCID: PMC9577027 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.917146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The main objective of this study was to explore the efficacy of a new antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation in reproductive outcomes of advanced age women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET), and the effect on the expression of L-glutathione (GSH) in follicular fluid (FF) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number of granulosa cells. Methods The present prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in 200 patients with advanced age women undergoing GnRH antagonist protocol. The treatment group (group A) consisted of 100 women who received N-acetylcysteine treatment from the menstrual phase of the previous cycle for about 45 days using the GnRH antagonist protocol. The control group (group B) consisted of 100 women who received the same protocol without N-acetylcysteine. Total gonadotrophin dosage the number of oocyte received, high-quality blastocysts, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between two groups. Pregnancy outcomes included biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate. Follicular fluid (FF) was collected after oocytes were gathered. The GSH content in the FF was tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mtDNA copy number of the granulosa cells was measured using real-time PCR techniques. Results Total doses of Gn in the NAC treatment group were less than those in the control group (2385.50 ± 879.19 vs. 2527.63 ± 1170.33, P = 0.047). Compared with the control, the number of high-quality blastocysts in NAC treatment increased significantly (1.82 ± 2.12 vs. 1.43 ± 1.58, p = 0.014). Clinical pregnancy rates did not differ in both groups (all P > 0.05). At the same time, the GSH content in the FF differed significantly between the two groups (1.88 ± 1.23 vs. 1.07 ± 0.70, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mtDNA copy number between the two groups (P = 0.157). Conclusion A combination of NAC and Gn treatment is capable of improving the ovarian response to superovulation drugs in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and also in aged populations. The addition of NAC during IVF can improve the quality of blastocysts in advanced age female subjects. However, more clinical trials are required to be designed to confirm this conclusion in future. Ethics and dissemination The experiment solicited approval from the Institutional ethics committee of the Affiliated Reproductive Hospital of Shandong University. All the participants provided written informed consent. This survey was conducted as per the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant amendments. Trial registration number www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100048297.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Li
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhongqing Wang
- Medical College of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan Golden Time Health Nursing Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Huidan Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Sheng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fang Lian
- Integrative Medicine Research Centre of Reproduction and Heredity, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Fang Lian
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Fu K, Chen X, Guo W, Zhou Z, Zhang Y, Ji T, Yang P, Tian X, Wang W, Zou Y. Effects of N Acetylcysteine on the Expression of Genes Associated with Reproductive Performance in the Goat Uterus during Early Gestation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182431. [PMID: 36139290 PMCID: PMC9495183 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The uterus is an important place for mammals to nurture new life, and improving the physiological function of the uterus is important for improving the reproductive efficiency of mammals. NAC is a small-molecule antioxidant with a positive regulatory effect on mammalian reproductive performance. We found that NAC can alter the expression of uterine genes in goats in early gestation. These DEGs may regulate uterine performance in early pregnancy in goats by participating in signalling pathways related to reproductive regulation, resistance to oxidative stress, immune regulation, angiogenesis and development, cytokines, and cell adhesion. These findings provide a fundamental reference for the modulation of reproductive performance in goats in early gestation by NAC. Abstract N acetylcysteine (NAC) affects antioxidation and reactive oxygen species scavenging in the body and thereby promotes embryonic development and implantation and inhibits inflammation. The mechanism through which NAC regulates reproductive performance in the uteri of goats during early gestation remains unclear. In this study, the treatment group was fed 0.07% NAC for the first 35 days of gestation, whereas the control group received no NAC supplementation. The regulatory genes and key pathways associated with goat reproductive performance under NAC supplementation were identified by RNA-seq. RT–qPCR was used to verify the sequencing results and subsequently construct tissue expression profiles of the relevant genes. RNA-seq identified 19,796 genes coexpressed in the control and treatment groups and 1318 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 787 and 531 DEGs enriched in the treatment and control groups, respectively. A GO analysis revealed that the identified genes mapped to pathways such as cell activation, cytokine production, cell mitotic processes, and angiogenesis, and a KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched in pathways associated with reproductive regulation, immune regulation, resistance to oxidative stress, and cell adhesion. The RT–qPCR analysis showed that BDNF and CSF-1 were most highly expressed in the uterus, that WIF1 and ESR2 showed low expression in the uterus, and that CTSS, PTX3, and TGFβ-3 were most highly expressed in the oviduct, which indicated that these genes may be directly or indirectly involved in the modulation of reproduction in early-gestation goats. These findings provide fundamental data for the NAC-mediated modulation of the reproductive performance of goats during early gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibin Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Wei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhinan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Taotao Ji
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Peifang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xingzhou Tian
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yue Zou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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Sun WS, Jang H, Park MR, Oh KB, Lee H, Hwang S, Xu LJ, Hwang IS, Lee JW. N-acetyl-L-cysteine Improves the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos Cultured In Vitro by Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10060860. [PMID: 34071998 PMCID: PMC8229896 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10060860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been suggested to negatively affect oocyte and embryo quality and developmental competence, resulting in failure to reach full term. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeating antioxidant, on developmental competence and the quality of oocytes and embryos upon supplementation (0.1–10 mM) in maturation and culture medium in vitro using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes and embryos. The results show that treating oocytes with 1.0 mM NAC for 8 h during in vitro maturation attenuated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.05) and upregulated intracellular glutathione levels (p < 0.01) in oocytes. Interestingly, we found that NAC affects early embryonic development, not only in a dose-dependent, but also in a stage-specific, manner. Significantly (p < 0.05) decreased cleavage rates (90.25% vs. 81.46%) were observed during the early stage (days 0–2), while significantly (p < 0.05) increased developmental rates (38.20% vs. 44.46%) were observed during the later stage (from day 3) of embryonic development. In particular, NAC supplementation decreased the proportion of apoptotic blastomeres significantly (p < 0.05), resulting in enhanced hatching capability and developmental rates during the in vitro culture of embryos. Taken together, our results suggest that NAC supplementation has beneficial effects on bovine oocytes and embryos through the prevention of apoptosis and the elimination of oxygen free radicals during maturation and culture in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu-Sheng Sun
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Hoon Jang
- Department of Life Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Korea;
| | - Mi-Ryung Park
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
| | - Keon Bong Oh
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
| | - Haesun Lee
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
| | - Seongsoo Hwang
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
| | - Li-Jie Xu
- Guangdong AIB Polytechnic College, Guangzhou 510507, China;
| | - In-Sul Hwang
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Korea; (W.-S.S.); (M.-R.P.); (K.B.O.); (H.L.); (S.H.)
- Correspondence: (I.-S.H.); (J.-W.L.); Tel.: +82-63-238-7258 (I.-S.H.); +82-42-860-4428 (J.-W.L.)
| | - Jeong-Woong Lee
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Correspondence: (I.-S.H.); (J.-W.L.); Tel.: +82-63-238-7258 (I.-S.H.); +82-42-860-4428 (J.-W.L.)
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Wang Y, Li L, Fan LH, Jing Y, Li J, Ouyang YC, Wang ZB, Hou Y, Sun QY. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) delays post-ovulatory oocyte aging in mouse. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2020-2030. [PMID: 30978175 PMCID: PMC6503888 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The quality of post-ovulatory oocytes decreases with aging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a broadly used antioxidant, on oocyte quality in mouse post-ovulatory oocyte aging in vitro. NAC at 0.6mM concentration was added to culture medium (M2), and the quality of oocytes was analyzed at 6h, 12h, 18h and 24h of culture. We found that the frequency of spindle defects decreased in NAC-treated oocytes compared to those without NAC treatment. NAC treatment significantly decreased abnormal distribution of cortical granules (CGs) in oocytes during aging for 18h and 24h. Decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also observed. Increased intracellular ATP levels and decreased abnormal distribution of mitochondria could be observed with NAC supplementation during post-ovulatory oocyte aging in vitro. These results indicate that NAC will maintain the quality of oocytes, and delay post-ovulatory oocyte aging as studied in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Hua Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying-Chun Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Li Q, Zhao Z. Influence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against bisphenol a on the maturation of mouse oocytes and embryo development: in vitro study. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2019; 20:43. [PMID: 31331389 PMCID: PMC6647297 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-019-0323-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, is a widely used chemical that has adverse effects on animal development and reproduction. The current research aimed to evaluate the effect of BPA on the in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent embryo development of mouse oocytes following in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS IVM was performed in the presence of different concentrations (0, 20, 50, or 100 μg/mL) of BPA. Nuclear maturation, IVF efficiency and embryonic development were determined. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) in the BPA (50 μg/mL) group were evaluated. We explored the ability of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) in the IVM medium to rescue the BPA-induced damage by examining changes in nuclear maturation, IVF rate, blastocyst formation, ROS levels and GSH content. RESULTS Compared with the control, BPA (50 μg/mL) supplementation during oocyte IVM significantly inhibited nuclear maturation and decreased fertilization and blastocyst formation rates. In addition, BPA exposure increased ROS levels and decreased GSH content in oocytes. The addition of NAC weakened the BPA-induced suppression of nuclear maturation, relieved the BPA-induced downregulation of the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates, and mitigated the increased ROS levels and decreased GSH content. CONCLUSION BPA affects mouse oocyte maturation and subsequent early embryonic developmental competence following IVF by increasing intracytoplasmic oxidative stress in mature oocytes. NAC can reduce these harmful effects to a certain extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai, China.
| | - Zhenjun Zhao
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai, China.
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Ambruosi B, Filioli Uranio M, Sardanelli AM, Pocar P, Martino NA, Paternoster MS, Amati F, Dell'Aquila ME. In vitro acute exposure to DEHP affects oocyte meiotic maturation, energy and oxidative stress parameters in a large animal model. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27452. [PMID: 22076161 PMCID: PMC3208636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/17/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants because of their use in plastics and other common consumer products. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most abundant phthalate and it impairs fertility by acting as an endocrine disruptor. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of in vitro acute exposure to DEHP on oocyte maturation, energy and oxidative status in the horse, a large animal model. Cumulus cell (CC) apoptosis and oxidative status were also investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes from the ovaries of slaughtered mares were cultured in vitro in presence of 0.12, 12 and 1200 µM DEHP. After in vitro maturation (IVM), CCs were removed and evaluated for apoptosis (cytological assessment and TUNEL) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Oocytes were evaluated for nuclear chromatin configuration. Matured (Metaphase II stage; MII) oocytes were further evaluated for cytoplasmic energy and oxidative parameters. DEHP significantly inhibited oocyte maturation when added at low doses (0.12 µM; P<0.05). This effect was related to increased CC apoptosis (P<0.001) and reduced ROS levels (P<0.0001). At higher doses (12 and 1200 µM), DEHP induced apoptosis (P<0.0001) and ROS increase (P<0.0001) in CCs without affecting oocyte maturation. In DEHP-exposed MII oocytes, mitochondrial distribution patterns, apparent energy status (MitoTracker fluorescence intensity), intracellular ROS localization and levels, mt/ROS colocalization and total SOD activity did not vary, whereas increased ATP content (P<0.05), possibly of glycolytic origin, was found. Co-treatment with N-Acetyl-Cysteine reversed apoptosis and efficiently scavenged excessive ROS in DEHP-treated CCs without enhancing oocyte maturation. In conclusion, acute in vitro exposure to DEHP inhibits equine oocyte maturation without altering ooplasmic energy and oxidative stress parameters in matured oocytes which retain the potential to be fertilized and develop into embryos even though further studies are necessary to confirm this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ambruosi
- Department of Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Manuel Filioli Uranio
- Department of Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Anna Maria Sardanelli
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Pocar
- Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Amati
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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