nano-micelle curcumin; a hazardous and/or boosting agent? relation with oocyte in-vitro maturation and pre-implantation embryo development in rats

The present study was done to uncover the possible beneficial and/or detrimental effect(s) of nano-micelle curcumin (nmc) on oocyte in-vitro maturation and pre-implantation embryo development. forty-eight mature female wistar rats were assigned to control, 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg^-1 nmc-receiving (orally, for 48 days) groups. to assess the cumulus-oocyte complexes (cocs), the ovaries were stimulated by administrating (i.p.) a 25 iu of the pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (pmsg) hormone. following 48-h, 15 iu of hcg was injected (i.p.), and the cocs were taken after 16-18-h. to analyze the pre-implantation embryo development ratio, the sperms were collected from clinically healthy male wistar rats, and 3.0-3.6 × 106 per ml was added into the fertilization drop. the animals in 7.5 mg/kg^-1 nmc-receiving group exhibited a higher oocyte number versus control and other nmc-receiving groups. the nmc, in a dose-dependent manner, decreased the zygote, 2-cell, blastocyst percentages, as well as hatched embryos, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). the 15 and 30 mg/kg^-1 nmc-receiving groups represented a remarkable enhancement in type i arrest. meanwhile, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction was revealed in type iii embryo arrest in the same groups. the nmc, at 7.5 mg/kg^-1 potentially enhances the oocyte number, while it fairly reduces the pre-implantation embryo development, even when it is administrated in dose levels of 7.5 mg/kg^-1 and/or higher. although more studies are needed, the nmc could be considered as a suppressor of fertility potential, when consumed chronically even in low doses.