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Identifier

000402844

Title

Η L-Καρμοτίνη επηρεάζει τη βιωσιμότητα εμβρύων προεμφυτευτικού σταδίου οδηγώντας σε παροδική υπογονιμότητα

Alternative Title

L-Carnitine affects preimplantation embryo development towards transient infertility

Author

Κυβελίδου, Χριστιάνα

Thesis advisor

Αθανασάκη, Ειρήνη

Reviewer

Χαλεπάκης, Γεώργιος
Φωτάκης, Κωνσταντίνος

Abstract

L-carnitine (L-Cn) despite the beneficial role as energy generating substance delivering long chain fatty acids to the β-oxidation pathway in the mitochondria matrix has been accused to cause an endometriosis-like state to BALB/c mice manifested by increased inflammatory cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid, accumulation of immune cells in the peritoneal cavity and uterine walls and most importantly, correlating to infertility. Exploring this type of infertility, the effect of L-Cn on preimplantation embryo development, ovarian integrity and systemic maternal immunity was studied. By using confocal and third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy, lipid bodies (LBs) were observed, showing changes in their distribution inside the embryos after in vitro and in vivo administration of L-Cn, and THG signal quantification revealed a significant decrease in both LB mean area and number in zygotes. Daily intraperitoneal administration of 2.5 mg L-Cn for 3, 4 and 7 days prior superovulation to BALB/c mice significantly decreased the percent of normal zygotes. However, only the 7day treatment persisted by affecting two- and eight-cell stage embryos, while almost abolishing blastocyst development. Such effects were accompanied by abnormal ovarian histology, showing increased numbers of corpora lutea and elevated progesterone concentration in the serum. In addition, it was shown that the 7-day L-Cn treatment affected maternal systemic immunity equilibrium by increasing CD11b ⁺, CD25 ⁺ and CD11b ⁺Gr1 ⁺ cells in spleen on day 0 of pregnancy, but failing to reach the elevated levels of CD11b ⁺Gr1 ⁺ cells on day 2 of pregnancy as compared to controls. In conclusion, the results presented here demonstrated that elevated doses of L-Cn affect both the early stages of embryo development and maternal reproduction and immunity, leading to transient infertility.

Language

Greek

Subject

Lipid bodies

Lipid droplets

Preimplantation embryos

Reproductive immunology

Ανοσολογία εγκυμοσύνης

Λιποκυστίδια

Προ-εμφυτευτικά έμβρυα

Issue date

2016-09-22