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Author Spotlight: Understanding DNA Damage Response in Mammalian Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos
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Author Spotlight: Understanding DNA Damage Response in Mammalian Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos

Published on: June 23, 2023

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Ionomycin-induced mouse oocyte activation can disrupt preimplantation embryo development through increased reactive

Chen Chen1, Tingye Sun1,2, Mingru Yin1

  • 1Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Molecular Human Reproduction
|July 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) with excessive ionomycin negatively impacts embryo development by disrupting energy metabolism and increasing DNA damage. Vitamin C can mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting cautious clinical application of AOA.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Embryology
  • Assisted Reproductive Technology

Background:

  • Oocyte activation via calcium oscillations is crucial for fertilization and embryogenesis.
  • Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) improves outcomes in cases of low fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
  • The impact of AOA on preimplantation embryo development following normal fertilization by ICSI remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of ionomycin-induced AOA on energy metabolism and preimplantation embryo development after ICSI with normal fertilization.
  • To evaluate the protective role of vitamin C against potential AOA-induced developmental abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • Oocytes were activated using varying concentrations of ionomycin post-ICSI with normal sperm.
  • Mitochondrial energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, ATP production, and DNA damage were assessed.
  • Preimplantation embryo development, including blastocyst formation, was evaluated.
  • The effect of vitamin C supplementation on mitigating ionomycin-induced damage was examined.

Main Results:

  • High ionomycin concentrations amplified calcium oscillations, disrupting mitochondrial energy metabolism.
  • This disruption led to increased ROS, decreased ATP levels, and elevated DNA damage.
  • Consequently, blastocyst formation rates were reduced.
  • Vitamin C supplementation ameliorated ROS and DNA damage, rescuing abnormal embryo development.

Conclusions:

  • Improper application of AOA, particularly at high ionomycin concentrations, can adversely affect preimplantation embryo development.
  • AOA may negatively impact energy metabolism and increase DNA damage in embryos resulting from normal fertilization.
  • Clinical AOA should be administered cautiously, and protective agents like vitamin C may offer a therapeutic strategy.
Keywords:
DNAROSartificial oocyte activationdamageembryonic developmentionomycin

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