title: Resveratrol protects against 2-bromopropane-induced apoptosis and disruption of embryonic development in blastocysts.
abstract: 2-Bromopropane (2-BP) is used as an alternative to ozone-depleting cleaning solvents. Previously, we reported that 2-BP has cytotoxic effects on mouse blastocysts and is associated with defects in subsequent development. In the present work, we show that 2-BP induces apoptosis in the inner cell mass of mouse blastocysts, and inhibits cell proliferation. Both effects are suppressed by resveratrol, a grape-derived phytoalexin with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 2-BP-treated blastocysts displayed lower levels of implantation (compared to controls) when plated on culture dishes in vitro, and a reduced ability to proceed to later stages of embryonic development. Pretreatment with resveratrol prevented 2-BP-induced disruption of embryonic development, both in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation of these processes revealed that 2-BP directly promotes ROS generation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and activation of caspase-3, whereas resveratrol effectively blocks 2-BP-induced ROS production and the accompanying apoptotic biochemical changes. Our results collectively imply that 2-BP triggers the mitochondrion-dependent apoptotic pathway via ROS generation, and the antioxidant activity of resveratrol prevents 2-BP-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience Technology and Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li 32023, Taiwan; E-Mail:  whchan@cycu.edu.tw ; Tel.: +886-3-2653515;
authors.forename: Wen-Hsiung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D020011:Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol; C103736:2-bromopropane