Preventing Effect of Vitamin E on Oocytes Apoptosis in Morphine-treated Mice

Abstract

ASADI, E.; SHABANI, R.; GHAFARI, S. & GOLALIPUR, M. J. Preventing effect of vitamin E on oocytes apoptosis in morphine-treated mice. Int. J. Morphol., 31(2):533-538, 2013.SUMMARY: Several studies have shown that Morphine Sulfate affects on fertility, embryogenesis and consequent pregnancyloss and ultrastructural alterations of oocytes in animal model. This study was done to determine the effect of morphine sulfate onoocytes apoptosis and preventive role of daily supplementation of Vitamin E on oocytes apoptosis in morphine sulfate -treated mice.Twenty-four NMARI female mice were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. For 15 days, control group received saline(0.2 ml/day by subcutaneous injection), group I Vitamin E (60 mg/kg/day orally), group II Morphine Sulfate (10 mg/kg/day by sub cutaneousinjection) and group III Morphine Sulfate with Vitamin E (60 mg/kg/day orally). Then, animals were superovulated with PSMG (10Units) and 10 Unites of HCG. The next day the animals were sacrificed, oocytes were flushed from each fallopian tube. The collectedoocytes were subjected to determine apoptosis by Tunnel assay with using Fluorescent Microscope. According to our results, the numberof retrieved oocytes were 121, 132, 86 and 114 in control, experimental group I, II and III, respectively. Morphine Sulfate treatmentincreased apoptosis in oocytes to 17.44% whereas oocytes apoptosis was 4.13% in Controls. Supplementation with Vitamin E in Mor phineSulfate -treated mice reduced the oocytes apoptosis to 7.01%. This study showed that Morphine can increase apoptosis in oocytes andVitamin E treatment significantly reduces oocytes apoptosis in the Morphine Sulfate -treated mice.KEY WORDS: Oocytes; Morphine sulfate; Vitamin E; Apoptosis; TUNEL assay; Mice.