Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have significantly higher rates of pregnancy loss, as well as elevated insulin and IGF-1 levels. In this study, preimplantation embryos exposed to high concentrations of IGF-1 or insulin undergo extensive apoptosis of the ICM nuclei. Lack of BAX expression, the caspase inhibitor, zVAD, or the ceramide synthase inhibitor, fumonisin B1, prevents this event, su...

Background. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a hematological malignancy caused by expression of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase oncogene, product of the t(9;22) Philadelphia translocation. Accelerated phase of this disease marks the onset of advanced rapidly progressive disease unresponsive to many therapies. Pregnancy limits broad number of therapies on patients because of their potential teratogenic effec...

The negative impact of hydrosalpinx on IVF outcome is well recognized but some reports indicate that tubal infertility with hydrosalpinx is a heterogeneous entity and may have different effects on the outcome. The embryotoxic effects of hydrosalpinx fluid (HF) have been documented in mouse but not human embryos. This study examined the effects of HF on sperm motility and survival after various ...

BACKGROUND Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by certain Aspergillus and Penicillium species. It has been observed to be teratogenic in a number of animal models including rat, mouse, hamster, and chick, with reduced birth weight and craniofacial abnormalities being the most commonly observed malformations. Neither the potential of OTA to cause malformations in humans nor its teratogeni...

Pharmaceutical and chemical industries are facing new challenges for hazard and risk assessment from regulatory agencies. Especially for potential embryotoxicity of active compounds, conclusions from animal testing remain problematic due to numerous species-specific effects. Developmental toxicity screening preferentially should be performed with human material. Appropriate models are scarce or...

Sperm cell and embryo toxicity tests using the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus Lmk were performed to assess the toxicity of As3+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Hg2+. The aim of this study was to improve information about the comparative sensitivity of sea urchin bioassays to the heavy metals, which are an important cause of contamination in the ecosystem of the Lagoon o...

The prospect of bearing an abnormal or deformed child has long been a chilling fear of all expectant mothers. Of the estimated 130 million children born each year worldwide, ] at least 2 to 3 percent are born with some type of birth defect.z It has only been within the last 150 years that doctors have attempted to interpret birth defects, or congenital malformations, in a scientific manner. The...

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have potential for use in evaluation of developmental toxicity because they are generated in large numbers and differentiate into three germ layers following formation of embryoid bodies (EBs). In earlier study, embryonic stem cell test (EST) was established for assessment of the embryotoxic potential of compounds. Using EBs indicating the onset of differentiation of m...

This review evaluates 17 clinical studies from 18 selected publications concerning the safety, tolerability, and additional effects of the phytotherapeutic drug, Canephron® N (CAN, containing the medicinal plants, Centaurium erythraea, Levisticum officinale, and Rosmarinus officinalis) as standard therapy in various clinical settings. Its role in the prophylaxis and treatment of urinary tract i...

Previous NIOSH studies demonstrated the embryo- and fetotoxicity and teratogenicity of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) applied to the shaved skin of pregnant rats. In the present study ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (EGEEA), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE), and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (diEGEE) were tested in the same experimental model, using distilled water as ...