Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University Foulum, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University Foulum, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Toxicol In Vitro. 2019 Mar;55:58-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2018.11.009. Epub 2018 Nov 23.
Xenobiotics, such as chemicals and pesticides, may result in adverse effects on reproduction in human and animals. Using in-vitro embryo production as a testing system reveals details of fertilization (IVF) and early embryonic development (IVC). The aim of our study was to perform a systematical calibration of sperm concentration in an IVF/IVC system, using an outbred mouse strain, and further determine the sperm concentration that furnishes a sensitive assessment of sperm fertilizing capacity in relation to reprotoxic evaluations. By performing breakpoint analysis, the results revealed a maximum two-cell percentage (51%, 95% CI: 38 to 69%) at 3.6 × 10 sperm/ml (95% CI: 2.1 × 10 to 6.1 × 10). For future application of the IVF/IVC system, a sperm concentration lower than this breakpoint concentration is required to be within the responsive range for determining sperm fertilizing capacity. We conclude that a relatively low sperm concentration (2.5 × 10 sperm/ml) is a precondition in a mouse IVF/IVC system in order to detect potential reprotoxic effects on sperm fertilizing capacity. Our study illustrates that a systematic approach is necessary for validation and appropriate use of such in-vitro system used for reproductive toxicity testing.
外源性化学物质，如化学制品和杀虫剂，可能会对人类和动物的生殖产生不良影响。利用体外胚胎生产作为测试系统，可以揭示受精（IVF）和早期胚胎发育（IVC）的细节。我们的研究目的是使用一种远交系小鼠对 IVF/IVC 系统中的精子浓度进行系统校准，并进一步确定能够敏感评估精子受精能力与生殖毒性评估相关的精子浓度。通过进行断点分析，结果显示在 3.6×10 个精子/ml（95%CI：2.1×10 到 6.1×10）时，最大的二细胞百分比为 51%（95%CI：38 到 69%）。对于 IVF/IVC 系统的未来应用，需要低于该断点浓度的精子浓度处于确定精子受精能力的响应范围内。我们得出结论，为了检测对精子受精能力的潜在生殖毒性影响，在小鼠 IVF/IVC 系统中，相对较低的精子浓度（2.5×10 个精子/ml）是一个前提条件。我们的研究表明，对于用于生殖毒性测试的这种体外系统，需要进行系统的方法来验证和适当使用。
