Nickel sulfate exposure induces ovarian inflammation and fibrosis and decreases oocyte quality in mice

Autor: Si-Cheng Zhao, Zhi-Ran Xu, Chang-Long Xu, Quan-Kuo He, Guang-Ming Yang, Yan-Ping Li, Yu-Shen Luo, Hai-Long Wang, Zhong-Quan Qi, Yu Liu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol 224, Iss , Pp 112634- (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0147-6513
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112634
Popis: Nickel is a heavy metal element extensively distributed in the environment and widely used in modern life. Divalent nickel is one of the most widespread forms of nickel and has been reported as toxic to various tissues. However, whether exposure to divalent nickel negatively affects ovarian homeostasis and oocyte quality remains unclear. In this study, we found that 3 weeks of nickel sulfate exposure affected body growth and decreased the weight and coefficient of the ovary, and increased atretic follicles exhibiting enhanced apoptosis in granulosa cells. Further studies have found that nickel sulfate triggered ovarian fibrosis and inflammation via transforming growth factor-β1 and nuclear factor-κB pathways, and reduced oocyte development ability. In addition, nickel sulfate increased the level of reactive oxygen species, which induced DNA damage and early apoptosis. Moreover, it was found that nickel sulfate caused damage to the mitochondria showing aberrant morphology, distribution and membrane potential while decreased levels of histone methylation. To summarize, our results indicated that nickel sulfate exposure triggered ovarian fibrosis and inflammation and caused structural and functional disorders of mitochondria in oocytes, which consequently disturbed ovarian homeostasis and follicle development and decreased oocyte quality.
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