title: Impaired oocyte quality induced by dehydroepiandrosterone is partially rescued by metformin treatment.
abstract: The present study evaluated the influence of hyperandrogenism on oocyte quality using a murine PCOS model induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and further explored the effect of metformin treatment. Female BALB/c mice were treated with a vehicle control or DHEA (6 mg /100 g body weight) or DHEA plus metformin (50 mg /100 g body weight) for 20 consecutive days. DHEA-induced mice resembled some characters of human PCOS, such as irregular sexual cycles and polycystic ovaries. After the model validation was completed, metaphase II (MII) oocytes were retrieved and subsequent analyses of oocyte quality were performed. DHEA-treated mice yielded fewer MII oocytes, which displayed decreased mtDNA copy number, ATP content, inner mitochondrial membrane potential, excessive oxidative stress and impaired embryo development competence compared with those in control mice. Metformin treatment partially attenuated those damages, as evidenced by the increased fertilization and blastocyst rate, ATP content, GSH concentration and GSH/GSSG ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species levels. No significant difference in normal spindle assembly was observed among the three groups. During in vitro maturation (IVM), the periods of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the first polar body (PB1) extrusion were extended and the maturation rate of GVBD oocytes was decreased in DHEA mice compared with controls. Metformin treatment decreased the time elapsed of GVBD while had no effect on PB1 extrusion. These results indicated that excessive androgen is detrimental to oocyte quality while metformin treatment is, directly or indirectly, beneficial for oocyte quality improvement.
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
authors: Jiangman
authors: J
authors: Gao
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
authors: Chunmei
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
authors: Hongcui
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D008687:Metformin; D005947:Glucose