BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are common environmental contaminants that represent an important risk factor of reproductive disorders in chronically exposed human populations. However, it is not known whether a short accidental exposure of embryos to PCBs before implantation might influence their further development and whether the effect might be reversible.<\/p>\n
METHODS AND RESULTS<\/p>\n
To this aim, in vitro<\/I>-matured sheep blastocysts were incubated with 2 or 4 µg\/ml Aroclor 1254 (A1254), a mixture of 60 PCB congeners for 48h after which blastocyst proliferation and ability for outgrowth in vitro<\/I> were assessed. Blastocysts exposed to A1254 showed: (i) reduced proliferation and cell number (particularly in the inner cell mass compartment); (ii) accumulation of vacuoles and lipid droplets, diffused mitochondrial damage and up-regulation of autophagy markers (ATG6<\/I> and LC3<\/I>), all signs indicative of deregulated autophagy, and (iii) massive cell death. Although exposed embryos resumed growth following A1254 removal, their subsequent development remained severely perturbed.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSIONS<\/p>\n
These findings indicate that short exposure of blastocysts to PCBs leads to its damage characterized by deregulated autophagy and subsequent cell death.<\/p>\n
Source: BACKGROUND Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are common environmental contaminants that represent an important risk factor of reproductive disorders in chronically exposed human populations. However, it is not known whether a short accidental exposure of embryos to PCBs before implantation might influence … Continue reading
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