Vitamin E supplementation may negatively affect preimplantation development and mitochondrial ultrastructure of vitrified murine embryos

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction
• Main Author: Sarbandi M.-S.; Noor Khan N.-A.M.; Rahman N.-S.A.; Eshak Z.; Abdullah F.; Malek M.A.; Kamal A.-A.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85107649362&doi=10.4103%2f2305-0500.316626&partnerID=40&md5=8b9b7b17dc5876dca039d68b3919236c

Objective: To observe the effects of vitamin E on post-vitrification preimplantation development, gross morphology as well as mitochondrial distribution and ultrastructure. Methods: Twenty-four female C57BL/6NTac mice, aged 12-16 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups. Group A did not receive any treatment and served as the control group. Group B was treated with corn oil stripped of tocopherols and served as the vehicle group. Group C was treated with 60 mg/kg body weight of tocotrienol-rich-fraction with corn oil stripped of tocopherols. Group D was treated with 60 mg/kg body weight of alpha-tocopherol with corn oil stripped of tocopherols. All treatments were administered orally for 7 consecutive days. After superovulation and mating with fertile males, 2-cell stage embryos were harvested for vitrification. Post vitrification development in vitro, gross morphology and ultrastructure were compared between groups. Results: The number of 2 and 8-cell embryo, and blastocysts in the treatment and control groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). Following vitrification, all 2-cell embryos had equal-sized blastomeres and intact zona pellucida. Mitochondrial aggregation toward the perinuclear region was seen in all of the treatment groups. Both groups C and D had vacuolated mitochondria, which was reflected in the trend of preimplantation development reduction. Conclusions: Vitamin E supplementation of 60 mg/kg body weight does not improve the viability of healthy embryos according to this study. As a result, the most effective dose of vitamin E supplementation may be determined by the initial quality of the embryos. © 2021 Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction Produced by Wolters Kluwer- Medknow. All rights reserved.