Nicotine induces multinuclear formation and causes aberrant embryonic development in bovine

Effect of cigarette smoke condensate on mouse embryo development and expression of pluripotency and apoptotic genes in vitro

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on in vitro development of mouse embryos. In total 3000 NMRI mice 2PN embryos were divided into six groups (n = 500). The test group was exposed to 20, 40, 80, 160 or 320 μg/ml of CSC. In the control group, CSC was not added to the culture medium during the development of 2PN embryos. The effects of 20 and 80 μg/ml of CSC on genes involved in pluripotency and apoptosis, and also, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene was assessed in the blastocysts. Our results showed that CSC had an adverse effect on the viability of mouse embryos at the concentrations of 80, 160 and 320 μg/ml compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In contrast, it had positive effects on the viability of mouse embryos at the concentrations of 20 and 40 μg/ml compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The 20 and 80 μg/ml concentrations of CSC increased the expression of pluripotency, apoptotic, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor genes in the blastocyst embryo stage compared with the control group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that concentrations higher than 40 μg/ml of CSC have an adverse effect on mouse embryo development in the preimplantation stages. Also, 20 and 80 μg/ml concentrations of CSC have a significant effect on the expression of pluripotency, apoptotic, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor genes in the blastocyst embryo stage compared with the control group.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Preimplantation Embryo Development

In this chapter, we first gave a brief introduction to the detriments of cigarette smoking, with an emphasis on its adverse effects on female reproductive health. Then, we outlined recent advances about the impacts of cigarette smoke on preimplantation embryo development. Additionally, toxicities of cadmium and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) at this specific developmental window were also discussed, to illustrate the potential mechanisms involved in cigarette smoke-associated embryotoxicity. Finally, we provide an overview of the issues to be solved in the future research. Further studies about the molecular mechanism of cigarette smoking-associated female infertility may provide vital insights into developing new interventions for the women smokers and thus improving their reproductive outcomes.

Smoking causes induction of micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in cervical cells

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is an independent cause of cervical cancer, which is the 4th most common malignancy in women. It is currently not known if tobacco consumption causes chromosomal damage (which is a hallmark of human cancer) in cervical cells and if age and the hormonal status have an impact on tobacco induced genetic instability in the cervix.

METHODS

We conducted a study with pre- and post-menopausal women smokers and never-smokers (25/group). Smokers consumed 30 light/medium cigarettes/day and were matched with the non-smoking group. Cervical cells were analyzed for induction of micronuclei (MN) which are caused by structural/numerical chromosomal aberrations; additionally, other nuclear anomalies reflecting genomic instability and cytotoxicity were scored. Furthermore, the frequencies of basal cells were recorded which reflect the mitotic activity of the mucosa.

RESULTS

MN and other abnormalities were increased in both groups of smokers. The effects were most pronounced in postmenopausal smokers (i.e. 2-fold higher) compared to premenopausal smokers. Also the number of basal cells (indicative for cell proliferation) was clearly enhanced in older women. Tar and nicotine had no detectable impact on chromosomal damage but a clear association with pack-years was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking increased chromosomal instability, cytotoxicity and induced cell divisions in cervical mucosa cells of pre- and post-menopausal women. The effects were more pronounced in the latter group indicating a higher risk for diseases (including cancer) that are causally related to DNA damage.

Nicotine Induces Polyspermy in Sea Urchin Eggs through a Non-Cholinergic Pathway Modulating Actin Dynamics

While alkaloids often exert unique pharmacological effects on animal cells, exposure of sea urchin eggs to nicotine causes polyspermy at fertilization in a dose-dependent manner. Here, we studied molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Although nicotine is an agonist of ionotropic acetylcholine receptors, we found that nicotine-induced polyspermy was neither mimicked by acetylcholine and carbachol nor inhibited by specific antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Unlike acetylcholine and carbachol, nicotine uniquely induced drastic rearrangement of egg cortical microfilaments in a dose-dependent way. Such cytoskeletal changes appeared to render the eggs more receptive to sperm, as judged by the significant alleviation of polyspermy by latrunculin-A and mycalolide-B. In addition, our fluorimetric assay provided the first evidence that nicotine directly accelerates polymerization kinetics of G-actin and attenuates depolymerization of preassembled F-actin. Furthermore, nicotine inhibited cofilin-induced disassembly of F-actin. Unexpectedly, our results suggest that effects of nicotine can also be mediated in some non-cholinergic pathways.

In vitro culture systems as an alternative for female reproductive toxicology studies

Studies have shown that daily exposure to different products, whether chemical or natural, can cause irreversible damage to women’s reproductive health. Therefore it is necessary to use tests that evaluate the safety and efficacy of these products. Most reproductive toxicology tests are performedin vivo. However, in recent years, various cell culture methods, including embryonic stem cells and tissues have been developed with the aim of reducing the use of animals in toxicological tests. This is a major advance in the area of toxicology, as these systems have the potential to become a widely used tool compared within vivotests routinely used in reproductive biology and toxicology. The present review describes and highlights data onin vitroculture processes used to evaluate reproductive toxicity as an alternative to traditional methods usingin vivotests.

Cigarette smoking and hormones

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose is to provide a summary of the effects of cigarette smoking on steroid hormone metabolism and how it affects female fertility.

RECENT FINDINGS

Components of tobacco smoke such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons lead to transcriptional upregulation of a number of genes, including members of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family, in particular CYP1B1 and CYP1A1. In humans, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are the primary enzymes catalyzing the 2-hydroxylation of estradiol. This pathway shunts available estrogen away from the more estrogenically potent 16α-hydroxylation to the production of catechol estrogens, mainly 2 and 4 hydroxyestradiol.

SUMMARY

Smoking has multiple effects on hormone secretion and metabolism. These effects are mainly mediated by the pharmacological action of tobacco alkaloids (nicotine and its metabolite cotinine). A strong body of evidence indicates that the negative effects of cigarette smoking on fertility compromises nearly every system involved in the reproductive process.

Ovotoxicity of cigarette smoke: A systematic review of the literature

This study reviews the scientific literature on the noxious effects of cigarette smoke on the ovarian follicle, and the cumulative data on the impact of smoking on in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle outcome. There is a close association between tobacco smoke and accelerated follicle loss, abnormal follicle growth and impairment of oocyte morphology and maturation. There is an increasing amount of evidence indicating that smoke can directly derange folliculogenesis. Increased cellular apoptosis or autophagy, DNA damage and abnormal crosstalk between oocyte and granulosa cells have been implicated in the demise of ovarian follicles. It becomes increasingly clear that maternal smoking can exert multigenerational effects on the ovarian function of the progeny. Growing evidence suggests that cigarette smoke is associated with decreased results after IVF. Further research is needed to better define the molecular mechanisms behind smoking-induced ovarian disruption.

Physiological Aspects of Female Fertility: Role of the Environment, Modern Lifestyle, and Genetics

Across the Western World there is an increasing trend to postpone childbearing. Consequently, the negative influence of age on oocyte quality may lead to a difficulty in conceiving for many couples. Furthermore, lifestyle factors may exacerbate a couple's difficulty in conceiving due mainly to the metabolic influence of obesity; however, the negative impacts of low peripheral body fat, excessive exercise, the increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, and smoking all have significant negative effects on fertility. Other factors that impede conception are the perceived increasing prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome, which is further exacerbated by obesity, and the presence of uterine fibroids and endometriosis (a progressive pelvic inflammatory disorder) which are more prevalent in older women. A tendency for an earlier sexual debut and to have more sexual partners has led to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, there are several genetic influences that may limit the number of oocytes within the ovary; consequently, by postponing attempts at childbearing, a limitation of oocyte number may become evident, whereas in previous generations with earlier conception this potentially reduced reproductive life span did not manifest in infertility. Environmental influences on reproduction are under increasing scrutiny. Although firm evidence is lacking however, dioxin exposure may be linked to endometriosis, phthalate exposure may influence ovarian reserve, and bisphenol A may interfere with oocyte development and maturation. However, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is recognized to lead to ovarian damage and predispose the woman to ovarian failure.

SGO1 maintains bovine meiotic and mitotic centromeric cohesions of sister chromatids and directly affects embryo development

Shugoshin (SGO) is a critical factor that enforces cohesion from segregation of paired sister chromatids during mitosis and meiosis. It has been studied mainly in invertebrates. Knowledge of SGO(s) in a mammalian system has only been reported in the mouse and Hela cells. In this study, the functions of SGO1 in bovine oocytes during meiotic maturation, early embryonic development and somatic cell mitosis were investigated. The results showed that SGO1 was expressed from germinal vesicle (GV) to the metaphase II stage. SGO1 accumulated on condensed and scattered chromosomes from pre-metaphase I to metaphase II. The over-expression of SGO1 did not interfere with the process of homologous chromosome separation, although once separated they were unable to move to the opposing spindle poles. This often resulted in the formation of oocytes with 60 replicated chromosomes. Depletion of SGO1 in GV oocytes affected chromosomal separation resulting in abnormal chromosome alignment at a significantly higher proportion than in control oocytes. Knockdown of SGO1 expression significantly decreased the embryonic developmental rate and quality. To further confirm the function(s) of SGO1 during mitosis, bovine embryonic fibroblast cells were transfected with SGO1 siRNAs. SGO1 depletion induced the premature dissociation of chromosomal cohesion at the centromere and along the chromosome arm giving rise to abnormal appearing mitotic patterns. The results of this study infer that SGO1 is involved in the centromeric cohesion of sister chromatids and chromosomal movement towards the spindle poles. Depletion of SGO1 causes arrestment of cell division in meiosis and mitosis.

[Effects of cigarette smoking on female reproduction: from oocyte to embryo (Part I)]

Cigarette smoking is associated with lower fecundity rate, adverse reproductive outcomes and higher risk of IVF failure. Over the last decades, prevalence of smoking among women of reproductive age has increased. The aim of this work was to focus on the knowledge of the effects of cigarette smoking on all reproductive stages, from oocyte to embryo. For each reproductive functions human clinical and experimental studies were analysed in order to find hypothesis and explanations for effects observed. All reproductive functions are targets of smoke compounds and cigarette smoking impairs ovarian reserve, sexual steroids synthesis, Fallopian tubes functions and embryo development, leading to reduced fecundity. Some of smoke compounds were identified in ovarian tissue, in uterine fluid and in the embryo, suggesting direct toxicity.

Effects of cigarette smoking on reproduction

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking is associated with lower fecundity rates, adverse reproductive outcomes and a higher risk of IVF failures. Over the last few decades, prevalence of smoking among women of reproductive age has increased. This review focuses on current knowledge of the potential effects of smoke toxicants on all reproductive stages and the consequences of smoke exposure on reproductive functions. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature on the impact of cigarette smoking and smoke constituents on the different stages of reproductive function, including epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies. We attempted to create hypotheses and find explanations for the deleterious effects of cigarette smoke observed in experimental studies. RESULTS Cigarette smoke contains several thousand components (e.g. nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and cadmium) with diverse effects. Each stage of reproductive function, folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis, embryo transport, endometrial receptivity, endometrial angiogenesis, uterine blood flow and uterine myometrium is a target for cigarette smoke components. The effects of cigarette smoke are dose-dependent and are influenced by the presence of other toxic substances and hormonal status. Individual sensitivity, dose, time and type of exposure also play a role in the impact of smoke constituents on human fertility. CONCLUSIONS All stages of reproductive functions are targets of cigarette smoke toxicants. Further studies are necessary to better understand the deleterious effects of cigarette smoke compounds on the reproductive system in order to improve health care, help to reduce cigarette smoking and provide a better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in reproductive toxicology.