P-423 Effect of pergafast 201 on in vitro meiotic maturation of pig oocytes
Authors: Prokešová Š , Žalmanová T , Močáryová B , Hošková K , Procházková B , Kott T , Petr J 
Published: June 2023

Study question

Does pergafast 201 (PF201) have harmful effects on selected markers of in vitro maturation of pig oocytes?

Summary answer

PF201 affects the course of in vitro oocyte maturation, reaching the metaphase II stage, formation of the meiotic spindle and methylation of selected epigenetic markers.

What is known already

PF201 is a chemical used as a color developer and currently serves as a replacement for bisphenol A and S in related paper and other products. Bisphenol A and S are already proven endocrine disruptors that can released into the environment and from there enter the human body, where they disrupt physiological hormonal functions. In the case of PF201, toxicity to aquatic organisms, persistence in the environment and affinity to some proteins associated with non-infectious diseases have already been confirmed. Therefore, further testing of the biological effect of PF201 is necessary to assess the risks to human health and reproduction.

Study design, size, duration

Cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) from the ovaries of slaughtered prepubertal sows were used. In vitro maturation dynamics of PF201-treated COCs were compared with control COCs (n ≥ 30). The meiotic spindle was assessed under a confocal microscope after fluorescence labeling of meiotic chromosomes and spindle microtubules. Dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine K4 (H3K4me2) and trimethylation at lysine K9 (H3K4me3) were imaged under a fluorescence microscope after fluorescent labeling, the intensity was subsequently evaluated in the ImageJ software.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

COCs were treated with PF201 in at least five independent experiments using the following concentrations: 300 pM, 30 nM and 3 µM, dissolved in DMSO to a final concentration of 0.05%. A vehicle control was used when COCs were cultured in medium with the same concentration of DMSO. COCs were cultured for 48 hours to metaphase II in 5.0% CO2 at 39 °C.

Main results and the role of chance

PF201 exposure in vitro affected meiotic maturation of pig oocytes, their ability to reach metaphase II, meiotic spindle formation, and epigenetic histone modifications. Treatment with 30 nM concentration of PF201 in vitro caused a significant accumulation of oocytes in metaphase I stage (35% vs. 7% in controls, p &lt; 0.05), consistent with a non-linear effect. Moreover, according to our results, PF201 also disrupts the formation of the meiotic spindle in pig oocytes and probably affects the organization of the meiotic spindle at multiple levels. After 300 pM (30%) and 30 nM (25% vs. 10% in controls, p &lt; 0.05) in vitro treatment of PF201, a significant increase in abnormalities of the meiotic spindle, most often irregular arrangement of the spindle, reduction of the meiotic figure, faulty attachment of chromosomes to tubulin and elongated poles of the meiotic spindle located far apart. A significant increase in the relative fluorescence intensity of epigenetic markers was also observed after treatment of oocytes with PF201. For histone H3K4me2, a significant increase in relative fluorescence intensity was observed after treatment with 300 pM and 3 µM concentrations, while for histone H3K9me3, a significant increase in relative intensity was observed after treatment with 30 nM and 3 µM concentrations.

Limitations, reasons for caution

As work with human oocytes encounters a number of ethical and legal regulations, a porcine model was chosen, which is physiologically close to the human oocyte. However, it would be great benefit if the effects of PF201 were evaluated in human discarded oocytes that can be obtained from IVF laboratories.

Wider implications of the findings

It is increasingly difficult for the human population to avoid exposure to environmentally toxic substances, and this fact could explain the decline in human fertility in recent decades. The finding that PF201 negatively affects meiotic maturation suggests, that it may reduce fertilization rates, thus requiring a re-evaluation of its use.

Trial registration number

MZE-RO0718