EVALUATION OF PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ETHYL PYRUVATE ON EMBYO DEVELOPING PROCESS IN IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) IN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE TREATED MICE

Cyclophosphamide (CP) has been known as an immunosuppressant agent, and is reported to induce oxidative stress. It also impacts gonadal cells nucleus and reduce the fertilizing potential. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Ethyl Pyruvate as a potential antioxidant on in vitro fertilized embryos development following exposure to CP. In this study, 36 mature female mice, aged 6-8 weeks were divided into 3 groups and treated for 21 days. The control animals received saline normal (0.1 ml,ip/day), and sham control group received CYPalone (15mg/kg,ip/week) and the experimental group received Ethyl Pyruvate (40mg/kg,ip/day) along with CP (15 mg/kg,ip/week). PMSG and HCG were administrated for stimulating the ovulation process. The sperms were obtained from 6 mature male mice. Following oocyte collection in-vitro fertilizing was performed using HTF+4mg/ml BSA medium. The fertilized oocytes were incubated for 120 hours and embryos were studied in various stages. Two proportion tests were used for statistical analyses by Minitab software (p<0.05). The animals in CP-treated group revealed significant decrease in appropriate oocyte number, fertilizing percentage, blastocyst and exhibited remarkably higher numbers of blocked embryos in comparison to the control group (P<0.05). In contrast, the Ethyl Pyruvate administration reversed the CP-induced damages. The animals in Ethyl Pyruvate -treated group revealed increased number of appropriate oocytes, percentage of fertilizing and improved embryo development (P<0.05). The Ethyl Pyruvate co-administration with CP resulted in significant improvement in fertilizing potential and promoted the embryo development.