The effect of glucocorticoids on mouse oocyte in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization and embryo development.

摘要: Abstract Increased glucocorticoid levels, due to medical therapy or stress-related, may affect reproduction via the hypothalamus–pituitary-axis directly at oocyte level. We examined effects of natural (corticosterone) synthetic (dexamethasone) glucocorticoids on mouse maturation and underlying changes in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation patterns. Fertilization progression up blastocyst stage were also evaluated. Oocytes exposed corticosterone dexamethasone (0, 0.25, 2.5, 25 250 μM) for 17 h during vitro maturation. After maturation, ERK-1/2 activation oocytes was assessed by SDS–PAGE immunoblotting, fertilization developmental capacity vitro. Corticosterone exposure significantly decreased metaphase II, embryo development highest concentration. caused a concentration-dependent inhibition activation, with concentration resulting considerable no development. In contrast, had effect cleavage, seen phosphorylation. Based these findings, high levels have consequences subsequent development, although short physiologic stress-related not represent hazard meiosis oocyte.