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  • Melatonin alleviates defects induced by zearalenone during porcine embryo development.

Melatonin alleviates defects induced by zearalenone during porcine embryo development.

Theriogenology (2020-04-21)
Xuerui Yao, Hao Jiang, Qingshan Gao, Ying-Hua Li, Yong Nan Xu, Nam-Hyung Kim
ABSTRACT

Zearalenone (ZEA), which is produced by several fusarium mycotoxins, is found in animal feed and food products, and can exert estrogen-like activity. Melatonin (MT) is emerging as a supplement that can fight the toxic effects of mycotoxins. With a variety of physiological functions that play crucial roles in the development of animal germ cells and embryos, melatonin regulates circadian rhythms and has an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative role. This study investigated the protective effects of melatonin against ZEA in porcine early embryonic development. Our results showed that ZEA adversely affected this development, while melatonin supplementation ameliorated the toxic effects. ZEA exposure increased oxidative stress and impaired mitochondrial function, which may affect blastocyst formation. Moreover, we found that ZEA exposure promotes apoptosis, DNA damage, and autophagy in porcine blastocysts. The toxic effects of ZEA on early embryos may be the result of oxidative stress-mediated early apoptosis, while melatonin treatment significantly improved these phenotypes in ZEA-exposed porcine early embryos. Taken together, our results indicate that melatonin has a protective effect on defects caused by ZEA during early porcine embryonic development.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Follicle Stimulating Hormone from human pituitary, ~7,000 IU/mg (powder)
Sigma-Aldrich
Cytochalasin B from Drechslera dematioidea, ≥98% (HPLC), powder
Sigma-Aldrich
D-Mannitol, BioXtra, ≥98% (HPLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
HEPES, BioXtra, suitable for mouse embryo cell culture, ≥99.5% (titration)
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(vinyl alcohol), Fully hydrolyzed
Sigma-Aldrich
Bovine Serum Albumin, pH <5.0, powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Epidermal Growth Factor from mouse, EGF
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium pyruvate, anhydrous, free-flowing, Redi-Dri, ReagentPlus®, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
L-Cysteine, ≥97%, FG
Sigma-Aldrich
Zearalenone, fungal mycotoxin
Sigma-Aldrich
JC-1, powder or solid (Crystals)
Sigma-Aldrich
Luteinizing Hormone from human pituitary, ≥8,500 IU/mg