Effect of Antioxidant and NMDA Receptor Antagonist on Mercury-Induced Toxicity in Cultured Preimplantation Embryos.

Hong, G Y; Pak, S T

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;41(3):695-701.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Effect of Antioxidant and NMDA Receptor Antagonist on Mercury-Induced Toxicity in Cultured Preimplantation Embryos.

Abstract

The embryotoxicity of methylmercuric chloride[MMC] was evaluated by the calculation of cell developmental rate in order to clarify the mechanism of oxidative injury induced by MMC. 2-cell embryos derived from mouse were cultured for 72 hours in the medium absent or present various concentrations of MMC and cytotoxicity of MMC was determined by the rate of blastocyst formation. In addition, the protective effects of antioxidant, vitamin E and NMDA[N methyl D - aspartate] receptor antagonist, MK-801 against embryotoxicity were examined. MMC inhibited the development of blastocysts in 2-cell embryos of mouse in dose - dependent manner, but vitamin E and MK-801 blocked the embryotoxicity induced by MMC. These results suggest that oxidative injury is involved in MMC-induced embryotoxicity in mouse preimplantation embryos by the prevention of vitamin E and NMDA receptor antagonist on mercury-induced toxicity.

Key Words: Methylmercuric chloride, Preimplantation embryo, Vitamin E, NMDA antagonist