Evaluation of Ethephon on in vitro Fertilization and Oxidative Stress in Female mice

 Ethephon is a good and effective plant growth regulator that improves product quality. It can probably interfere with the functioning of the reproductive system.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethephon on in vitro fertility and oxidative stress in mice.

In this experimental study, animals were divided into five groups; control (without receiving any substance), sham (receiving daily serum physiology orally), ethephon 1 (receiving daily 192 mg/kg orally), ethephon 2 (receiving daily 240 mg/kg orally), ethephon 3 (receiving daily 480 mg/kg). At the end of the 28-day treatment period, the ovaries were removed for in vitro fertilization. Oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in serum samples. Fertility parameters including oocyte percentage, fertilization percentage and embryo quality were also examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.

The results of the experiments showed that ethephon in all three doses reduced the TAC compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also the level of MDA in ethephon-treated mice increased compared to the control mice (p<0.05(. In addition fertilization rate, percentage of two-cell embryos and blastocysts decreased in all three groups receiving ethephon, and this difference was significant in the high, medium and low dose groups compared to the control group (p<0.05).

It can be concluded that an oral administration of ethephon with effect on the oxidative stress system can probably have a deleterious effect on fertility and embryo development in mice.