The protective role of quercetin against copper-induced female reproductive toxicity: Insights from transcriptome...

Quercetin has been shown to mitigate the cytotoxic effects of heavy metals. While copper is an essential trace element for bodily functions, excessive intake has been linked to impaired female reproductive function. Transcriptome analysis was employed to identify genes that are differentially expressed in response to high copper and were validated through qRT-PCR and western blotting. ATP content and Tunel were used to identify the damage of mitochondrial and cell apoptosis. PPI analysis revealed that MKI67, TOPII, ASPM, CASP3, PLK1, and TTK are central proteins within the network. Additionally, exposure to elevated levels of copper resulted in the dysregulation of 86 genes associated with mitochondria. Conversely, treatment with quercetin (QUE) in combination with high copper led to the normalization of 42 mitochondria-related genes previously affected by high copper levels. Furthermore, CuSO₄ decreases ATP content and induces cell apoptosis, which can be reversed by QUE. Results suggest that elevated copper levels could lead to oxidative stress and apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial damage, while QUE has the potential to mitigate these effects, ultimately safeguarding granulosa cells and halting the progression of cell death. This study provides novel insights into the molecular pathways involved in female reproductive toxicity caused by excessive copper exposure.