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An Environmentally Relevant Organochlorine Mixture Impairs Sperm Function and Embryo Development in the Porcine Model¹

^a Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, ^b Département de Sciences Animales, and Unité de Recherche en Santé Publique (CHUL-CHUQ), Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4

We evaluated the effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of more than 15 organochlorines on the development of pig oocytes and sperm during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Oocytes were cocultured with sperm in IVF medium containing increasing concentrations of an organochlorine mixture, similar to that found in women of highly exposed populations. Exposure to the organochlorine mixture diminished oocyte penetration rates and polyspermy in a linear manner. The mixture did not affect rates of cleavage nor development to multicell embryos. However, rates of development to the blastocyst stage were lower at the highest concentration at which oocyte penetration was observed. The same experiment was performed using oocytes that were preexposed during in vitro maturation. This greater exposure to the mixture also reduced penetration in a dose-response manner and affected polyspermy. Frozen-thawed pig sperm were also cultured in IVF medium containing the same organochlorine concentrations. Sperm motility parameters were immediately reduced in a dose-dependant manner by the organochlorines, followed by diminished viability 2 h later. From these results, it appears that reduced sperm quality would account for decreases in fertilization, polyspermy, and blastocyst formation. These results suggest that exposing porcine oocytes and sperm to an environmentally pertinent organochlorine mixture in vitro disrupts the oocyte block to polyspermy, sperm fertility, and further embryonic development, and supports recent concerns that such pollutants harm reproductive health in humans and other species.

First decision: 28 August 2001.

¹ This work was supported by the Toxic Substances Research Initiative Programme of Health Canada.

² Correspondence: J.L. Bailey, Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Département des Sciences Animales, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada G1K 7P4. FAX: 418 656 3766; janice.bailey{at}crbr.ulaval.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M.-K. I. Anas, C. Guillemette, P. Ayotte, D. Pereg, F. Giguere, and J. L. Bailey In Utero and Lactational Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Organochlorine Mixture Disrupts Reproductive Development and Function in Male Rats Biol Reprod, September 1, 2005; 73(3): 414 - 426. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]