부산대학교 도서관

There is ample evidence regarding the interference of air pollution in the gametogenesis process in mammals. Diesel fuel, a environmental pollutant that represents a major source of particles in the urban scenario, is a compound derived from petroleum and used as fuel, which can affect the lives of living beings due to the deleterious effects that can generate embryonic malformations, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, favoring the loss of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diesel fuel particles in bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) by morphological analysis of oocytes by light microscopy and, physiological, by observing the presence of the polar body. The oocytes were collected from ovaries from a slaughterhouse and separated into two groups: control (n = 330) and exposed (n = 331) to 5 mL of suspension containing particles from the diesel fuel (nickel, sulfur, iron, vanadium, lead, cadmium, chromium and copper). Both groups were stored in a IVM medium (Embriocare -- SP/Brazil) for 24 hours in CO2 incubator at 5%, 37°C and 90% humidity. Statistical analysis was done by χ²test. Regarding the morphological changes there was an inhibition of growth and disintegration of the cumulus cells, ooplasm retraction and increased periplasmic space compared with the control group. Regarding the presence of polar body, it was found that the exposed group showed a significant inhibition (p < 0.05) from 84.6% (280/331) versus 34.8% (115/330) of control group. Whereas the maturation period in vitro mimics part of oogenesis in vivo, our results show that, possibly, the particulate materials from the diesel fuel affects the fertility of mammals, likely causing a block in oocyte maturation affecting fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]