title: A protective role of cumulus cells after short-term exposure of rat cumulus cell-oocyte complexes to lifestyle or environmental contaminants.
abstract: Ovarian follicular fluid provides a potential reservoir for exogenous compounds that may adversely affect oocyte quality. This study examined the effects of common lifestyle and environmental contaminants, namely bisphenol-A (BPA), caffeine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), nicotine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on gap junction genes (Gja1, Gja4) and proteins (GJA1), glucose metabolism genes (Gfpt1, Pfkp) and oocyte growth factor genes (Bmp15, Gdf9), as well as gap junction transfer rate, in rat cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). In vitro exposure to MDMA and THC accelerated the timing of meiotic resumption and all contaminants altered either gap junction gene expression (BPA, caffeine, MDMA and THC) or transfer rate (BPA and nicotine). In vitro exposure of COCs to MDMA also altered glucose metabolism genes. Overall, oocyte-derived genes were largely unaffected following exposure to any contaminant. In summary, the impact of short-term exposure to lifestyle and environmental contaminants on oocyte function may be diminished due to protective properties of cumulus cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Campen
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: McNatty
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. Electronic address: janet.pitman@vuw.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pitman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D002110:Caffeine / Q000633:toxicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000633:toxicity*; D008019:Life Style; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002110:Caffeine; D013759:Dronabinol; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D009538:Nicotine; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Cumulus cells; Environmental contaminants; Gap junctions; Glucose metabolism; Lifestyle factors; Oocyte; Oocyte growth factors