Affiliations: Department of Embryology, Cell Science Research
Center, Royan Institute, ACECR,Tehran, Iran | Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tehran
University, Tehran, Iran | Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine,
Baqiyatallah University, Tehran, Iran
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Hussein Eimani, Embryology
Department, Reproductive Medicine Center, P.O. Box: 19395-4644, Royan
Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Or Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine,
Baqiyatallah University, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: eimanih@royaninstitute.org
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of MEHP on
in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes and resulting embryo development. Denuded oocytes (DO) were cultured in maturation medium supplemented
with 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μM levels of MEHP for 24 h.
The matured oocytes then were fertilized and cultured for 4 days. The percentage of Germinal Vesicle (GV) stage oocytes were
significantly higher in 200 and 400 μM MEHP treatment
comparing to the control (P < 0.05). The proportion of
oocytes that progressed to the metaphase II (MII) stage was significantly
decreased by adding of MEHP in a dose related pattern. The 2-cell embryo
formation was significantly decreased with 400 μM
treatments than the control. Moreover with further culture in experimental
groups none of the embryos comparing to that of the control group were
developed to morulla stage (P < 0.05). These results indicate that MEHP could negatively modulate mouse
oocyte meiotic maturation in vitro and embryo development, suggesting
possible risks for human and other mammalians reproductive health.
