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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Mouse Oocyte Microinjection, Maturation and Ploidy Assessment
Published on: July 23, 2011
Prothioconazole exposure disrupts oocyte maturation and fertilization by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and
Mianqun Zhang1, Wei Wang1, Dandan Zhang2
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230036, China.
Abstract:
Prothioconazole (PTC), a novel broad-spectrum triazole fungicide, has attracted widespread concern due to its wide use and toxicological effects on non-target organisms. However, little is known about the impact of PTC on oocyte quality and female fertility, especially on oocyte maturation and fertilization. In the present study, we reported that PTC exposure affects the oocyte developmental competence and oocyte fertilization ability to weaken female fertility. Firstly, PTC compromises oocyte development ability by disrupting spindle morphology and chromosome alignment, as well as decreasing acetylation level of α-tubulin and disrupting kinetochore-microtubule attachments. In addition, PTC compromises oocyte fertilization ability by weakening the sperm binding ability and impairing the dynamics of Juno, Cortical granule and Ovastacin. Finally, single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that PTC exposure has potentially toxic effects on oocyte development and fertilization, which is caused by the mitochondrial dysfunction and the occurrence of oxidative stress and apoptosis. In summary, our results indicated that PTC exposure had potentially toxic effects on female fertility and led to poor oocyte quality in female mice.
Insights
Prothioconazole (PTC) fungicide exposure harms female fertility by damaging oocyte quality. This fungicide disrupts oocyte maturation and fertilization, leading to reproductive health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Environmental Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Prothioconazole (PTC) is a widely used triazole fungicide with known toxic effects on non-target organisms.
- Limited data exists on PTC's impact on female reproductive health, specifically oocyte quality, maturation, and fertilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of Prothioconazole (PTC) exposure on oocyte developmental competence and fertilization ability in female mice.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying PTC-induced female infertility.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of female mice to Prothioconazole (PTC).
- Assessment of oocyte morphology, spindle organization, chromosome alignment, and kinetochore-microtubule attachments.
- Evaluation of sperm-oocyte binding and dynamics of key fertilization-related proteins (Juno, Cortical granule, Ovastacin).
- Single-cell transcriptome analysis to identify molecular pathways affected by PTC.
Main Results:
- PTC exposure significantly compromises oocyte developmental competence by disrupting spindle morphology and chromosome alignment.
- PTC impairs oocyte fertilization ability by reducing sperm binding and affecting fertilization-related protein dynamics.
- Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed PTC-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in oocytes.
- PTC exposure leads to poor oocyte quality and weakened female fertility.
Conclusions:
- Prothioconazole (PTC) exposure exerts toxic effects on female fertility.
- PTC negatively impacts oocyte quality, maturation, and fertilization through molecular and cellular disruptions.
- Findings highlight the potential reproductive risks associated with Prothioconazole (PTC) exposure.
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