2. Academic Validation
  3. Methylmercury chloride inhibits meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes in vitro by disrupting the cytoskeleton

Methylmercury chloride inhibits meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes in vitro by disrupting the cytoskeleton

  • Food Chem Toxicol. 2024 Nov:193:115024. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.115024.
Zhiming Ding 1,  Yan Sun 1,  Caiyun Wu 1,  Cong Ma 1,  Hongzhen Ruan 1,  Yingying Zhang 1,  Yan Xu 1,  Ping Zhou 1,  Yunxia Cao 2,  Zuying Xu 3,  Huifen Xiang 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China.
  • 2 Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Education, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China. Electronic address: caoyunxia5972@ahmu.edu.cn.
  • 3 Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Education, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China. Electronic address: yueshui91@126.com.
  • 4 Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No.218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Education, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No.81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China. Electronic address: huifen521@sina.com.
PMID: 39341490 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.115024
Abstract

Methylmercury chloride (MMC) is a persistent heavy metal contaminant that can bioaccumulate in humans via the food chain, exerting detrimental effects on health. Nevertheless, the specific influence of MMC on oocyte meiotic maturation has yet to be elucidated. This research demonstrated that MMC exposure during the in vitro cultivation of mouse oocytes did not influence germinal vesicle breakdown but markedly decreased oocyte maturation rates. Subsequent analysis indicated that MMC exposure resulted in aberrant spindle morphology and disorganized chromosome alignment, alongside continuous activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). However, MMC exposure didn't alter the localization pattern of microtubule-organizing center-associated proteins. MMC exposure considerably diminished the acetylation level of α-tubulin, signifying reduced microtubule stability. Additionally, MMC exposure disrupted the dynamic alterations of F-actin. MMC exposure didn't affect mitochondrial localization, mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate content or the concentrations of Reactive Oxygen Species. Nonetheless, MMC exposure triggered DNA damage and modified histone modification levels. Consequently, the defects in oocyte maturation induced by MMC exposure can be attributed to impaired Cytoskeleton dynamics and DNA damage. This study offers the first comprehensive elucidation of the negative impacts of MMC on oocyte maturation, highlighting the potential reproductive health risks associated with MMC exposure.

Keywords

Cytoskeleton; Meiotic maturation; Methylmercury chloride; Oocyte.

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