Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure
Lindane, a persistent organochlorine pesticide, exerts toxic effects on the female reproductive system, compromising oocyte quality and maturation. However, the effects of this pesticide on mammalian oocyte morphology and ultrastructure remain unknown. This study investigated the effects of Lindane...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Marta Gatti Manuel Belli Mariacarla De Rubeis Stefania Annarita Nottola Guido Macchiarelli Carla Tatone Giovanna Di Emidio Maria Grazia Palmerini |
| author_facet | Marta Gatti Manuel Belli Mariacarla De Rubeis Stefania Annarita Nottola Guido Macchiarelli Carla Tatone Giovanna Di Emidio Maria Grazia Palmerini |
| author_sort | Marta Gatti |
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| description | Lindane, a persistent organochlorine pesticide, exerts toxic effects on the female reproductive system, compromising oocyte quality and maturation. However, the effects of this pesticide on mammalian oocyte morphology and ultrastructure remain unknown. This study investigated the effects of Lindane on mouse oocyte ultrastructure using an in vitro model with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) at concentrations from 1 to 100 μM. The results revealed a progressive dose-related trend of alterations: at 1 μM, mild swelling of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) vesicles; at 10 μM, increased SER dilation and cytoplasmic disorganization; and at 100 μM, pronounced vacuolization, mitochondrial swelling, dense lamellar bodies (dlbs), and multivesicular bodies (MVBs) indicative of autophagic activity. Mitochondrial alterations increased significantly with concentration: 3.2 ± 0.8 (control), 5.7 ± 1.0 (1 μM), 9.4 ± 1.5 (10 μM), and 16.8 ± 2.3 (100 μM) altered mitochondria per oocyte (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Vacuole frequency was notably elevated at 100 μM (4.3 ± 1.1 vs. 0.7 ± 0.5 in controls), and mislocalization of organelles within the ooplasm was observed. In conclusion, Lindane-induced oocyte ultrastructural alterations were observed at all tested concentrations but were more pronounced at 100 μM. These results highlight its impact on female fertility and may guide the search for protective agents, as well as efforts to reduce environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2c19236694e041ac9447dbb0b1074b542025-08-20T04:00:49ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515832010.3390/app15158320Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane ExposureMarta Gatti0Manuel Belli1Mariacarla De Rubeis2Stefania Annarita Nottola3Guido Macchiarelli4Carla Tatone5Giovanna Di Emidio6Maria Grazia Palmerini7Research Unit of Immunorheumatology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Rome “Campus Biomedico”, 00128 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyLindane, a persistent organochlorine pesticide, exerts toxic effects on the female reproductive system, compromising oocyte quality and maturation. However, the effects of this pesticide on mammalian oocyte morphology and ultrastructure remain unknown. This study investigated the effects of Lindane on mouse oocyte ultrastructure using an in vitro model with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) at concentrations from 1 to 100 μM. The results revealed a progressive dose-related trend of alterations: at 1 μM, mild swelling of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) vesicles; at 10 μM, increased SER dilation and cytoplasmic disorganization; and at 100 μM, pronounced vacuolization, mitochondrial swelling, dense lamellar bodies (dlbs), and multivesicular bodies (MVBs) indicative of autophagic activity. Mitochondrial alterations increased significantly with concentration: 3.2 ± 0.8 (control), 5.7 ± 1.0 (1 μM), 9.4 ± 1.5 (10 μM), and 16.8 ± 2.3 (100 μM) altered mitochondria per oocyte (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Vacuole frequency was notably elevated at 100 μM (4.3 ± 1.1 vs. 0.7 ± 0.5 in controls), and mislocalization of organelles within the ooplasm was observed. In conclusion, Lindane-induced oocyte ultrastructural alterations were observed at all tested concentrations but were more pronounced at 100 μM. These results highlight its impact on female fertility and may guide the search for protective agents, as well as efforts to reduce environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8320endocrine disruptorenvironmental toxicityfemale fertilityLindane oocytespesticidestransmission electron microscopy |
| spellingShingle | Marta Gatti Manuel Belli Mariacarla De Rubeis Stefania Annarita Nottola Guido Macchiarelli Carla Tatone Giovanna Di Emidio Maria Grazia Palmerini Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure Applied Sciences endocrine disruptor environmental toxicity female fertility Lindane oocytes pesticides transmission electron microscopy |
| title | Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure |
| title_full | Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure |
| title_fullStr | Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure |
| title_short | Concentration-Related Ultrastructural Alterations in Mouse Oocytes Following In Vitro Lindane Exposure |
| title_sort | concentration related ultrastructural alterations in mouse oocytes following in vitro lindane exposure |
| topic | endocrine disruptor environmental toxicity female fertility Lindane oocytes pesticides transmission electron microscopy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8320 |
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