title: Pressure induced nucleus DNA fragmentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate the impact of pressure on nuclear DNA integrity in viable cells of mouse blastocysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The blastocysts of hybrid F1 females [(C57Bl/10 J × CBA-H);N = 15] aged 2-3 months were exposed into the pressure impulse lasting ~0.021 s and characterized by a positive pressure peak of ~76 mmHg. The nuclear DNA fragmentation index of mouse blastocysts was assessed by TUNEL assay within 60 s after exposure to pressure impulse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean nuclear DNA fragmentation index was significantly higher in the experimental group (83%) than in the control group (19.7%); p < 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low magnitude pressure impulse can induce nuclear DNA fragmentation in mouse blastocysts. The compression and decompression forces appearing during pressure fluctuations are responsible for the observed DNA shearing.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine Bocian, Akademicka 26, 15-267, Bialystok, Poland. cezary.grygoruk@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grygoruk
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sieczynski
authors.forename: Jacek A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Modlinski
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajda
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greda
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grad
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietrewicz
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mrugacz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011312:Pressure