Influence of the anti-androgen hydroxyflutamide on in vitro development of mouse embryos

Hydroxyflutamide is a potent nonsteroidal anti-androgenic drug extensively used in laboratory investigations. Our present studies were aimed at determining whether this anti-androgen modulates development of embryos in vitro. One-cell and two-cell mouse embryos were collected by flushing the oviducts and cultured in defined culture media in the presence or absence of various doses of hydroxyflutamide. The development of embryos from one-cell and two-cell to blastocyst stage was assessed. Hydroxyflutamide caused a dose-dependent (0-100 micrograms ml-1) inhibition of development of both one-cell and two-cell embryos; 100% inhibition was observed at 20 micrograms ml-1. The adverse effects of hydroxyflutamide on two-cell embryo development were completely reversed by testosterone in a dose-dependent manner, but not by oestradiol and progesterone. These results indicate that the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide inhibits early embryo development suggesting that it may be useful during the preimplantation period for preventing conception.