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.
Material & Methods: 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).
Results: 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).
Conclusion: The Ethyl Pyruvate co-administration with CP resulted in significant improvement in
fertilizing potential and promoted the embryo development.