title: Effect of hexavalent chromium-treated sperm on in vitro fertilization and embryo development.
abstract: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an environmental contaminant that is associated with reproductive abnormalities in both humans and animals. In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of Cr(VI) on sperm function and subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sperm obtained from BDF1 male mice were treated with potassium dichromate (0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, or 50 μM) for 3 h. Cr(VI) significantly decreased sperm viability and acrosome reaction with increasing dose. These Cr(VI)-treated sperms were further used for IVF of oocytes obtained from BDF1 female mice. Results showed that Cr(VI)-treated sperm caused a significant reduction in IVF success, higher developmental arrest at the two-cell stage of embryos, and delayed blastocyst formation with increasing dose. In particular, most blastocysts from the Cr(VI)-treated sperm resulted in hatching failure as well as decreased inner cell mass and trophectoderm (TE). Furthermore, blastocysts obtained from Cr(VI)-treated sperm showed lower expression of not only TE-associated genes (eomes, cdx2, and krt8) but also pluripotent marker genes (sox2, pou5f1, and klf4) that are responsible for further embryo development of blastocyst embryos. The results of our current study showed that Cr(VI)-treated sperm had negative effects on oocyte fertilization and subsequent embryo development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Animal Resources Research Center, College of Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoisungnern
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Animal Resources Research Center, College of Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joydeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Animal Resources Research Center, College of Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rangsun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parnpai
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Animal Resources Research Center, College of Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea jhkim541@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jin-Hoi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004477:Ectogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000633:toxicity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; C000715468:Klf4 protein, mouse; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D013723:Teratogens; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D011192:Potassium Dichromate
keywords: Chromium; acrosome reaction; embryo development; gene expression; in vitro fertilization