ABSTRACT
Background: Using cellular phone has rapidly increased all over the world. Also, the concern on the possible health hazards of electromagnetic fields [EMF] induced from cell phones to reproduction has been growing in many countries. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences and effects of exposure to the cell phone radiation on the quality and survival rates of preimplantation embryos in mice
Methods: A total of 40 mice [20 females and 20 males], 6 weeks old and sexually mature BALB/c, were used for control and experimental groups. The ovary burses were removed and the zygotes were dissected in the morning after mating. Next, 2-cell embryos were divided into two groups of control [n=150] and experimental [n=150]. EMF [900-1800 MHz] was used for four days in experimental group for 30 min/day in culture at 37°C in a CO[2]incubator. The quality of embryos was recorded daily and the fluorescent staining was used for identification of viable blastocysts. All data were compared by Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test [p<0.05]
Results: The rate of embryo survival to the blastocysts stage was similar in both groups. However, the percentage of dead embryos at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in EMF-exposed group compared with controls [p=0.03]. Also, the loss of cell viability significantly increased in experimental blastocysts [p=0.002]
Conclusion: The normal embryonic development up to the blastocyst stage indicates that EMF-exposure commonly did not have adverse effect on embryo development in mice. But, it caused loss of blastocysts cell viability
ABSTRACT
In vitro maturation [IVM] of immature oocytes collected from ovary has been proposed for fertility preservation. In addition, quality of oocytes post IVM is one of the factors determining its developmental competence. By using the non-invasive Polscope system, both meiotic spindle [MS] and zona pellucida [ZP] can be assessed in living oocytes. The aim was to investigate the developmental potential of immature oocytes retrieved from ovarian tissue after IVM, as a method for fertility preservation, in patients with gynecological diseases. The ovarian cortex from 26 patients with malignant and benign diseases [21-45 years old], were obtained directly from collaborating hospitals, and transported to the IVF center on ice. In total 61 immature oocytes were aspirated, of which 18 [29.5%] were degenerated and discarded. The remaining 43 [70.5%] healthy oocytes were cultured in IVM culture media for 48 hr. The rate of maturity was assessed, and the ZP birefringence and MS were imaged with Polscope technology. Overall 43 immature oocytes underwent IVM technology, of which 30.2% reached viable metaphase II [MII] oocytes. The ovarian tissues of 9 [34.6%] women were lacking oocytes at any stage. During polarized light microscopy examination, MS could be visualized only in one of the MII oocytes, but high ZP birefringence's were observed in the majority of the oocytes post IVM [61.5%]. Oocytes maturation post IVM from unstimulated ovaries showed a good developmental competence in gynecologic patients. Further studies should be performed to advance the oocyte maturation program, such as co-culture system, for fertility preservation