Effects of Alcohol on Mitochondrial Functions of Cumulus Cells in Mice.
Alcohol is an important compound used in food, agriculture, and medicine. In this study, we investigated the effect of alcohol on oocyte quality in mice by exposing animals for different duration times during an estrous cycle. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from mice after pregnant mare serum gonadotropin- and human chorionic gonadotropin-induced superovulation. Ovulation number, E2level in serum, and parthenogenetic embryo development in vitro were evaluated. Mitochondrial gene expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the cumulus were also assessed. The results showed that acute exposure to alcohol did not affect ovulation time (p > 0.05). Blasocyst formation rate in vitro was significantly improved after 1 and 2 days of alcohol exposure (p < 0.01). Mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly increased after 1-4 days of alcohol exposure (p < 0.05), but it decreased after 5 days (p < 0.05). ROS levels remained relatively low after 2, 3, and 4 days of exposure (p < 0.05), and they significantly increased after 6 days (p < 0.05). In addition, alcohol altered the expression of mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the cumulus. Taken together, our data suggest that acute exposure to alcohol affects oocyte quality by influencing the function and gene expression in the cumulus. These results underscore potential implications for the development of human reproductive therapeutics.
1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University , Xi'an, China .
Wanlu
W
Xu
1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University , Xi'an, China .
Lihui
L
Huo
1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University , Xi'an, China .
Jingjing
J
Li
1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University , Xi'an, China .
Chunli
C
Xu
2 Department of Experimental Surgery of Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, China .
Shuang
S
Wang
3 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, China .
Yanhong
Y
Yang
3 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, China .
Chuang
C
Liu
4 Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance , Ministry of Education, Yinchuan, China .|5 Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland .
Xiaomin
X
Zheng
2 Department of Experimental Surgery of Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, China .
Xiuliang
X
Feng
1 Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University , Xi'an, China .
Xingrong
X
Yan
D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D000438:Alcohols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
alcohol; mice; mitochondria; oocyte quality; parthenogenesis