Protective effect of germanium citrate in endotoxin-induced ovarian dysfunction in mice.

Abstract

Now it is known that endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria – lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is associated with disturbances of reproductive function in women. To simulate an ovarian dysfunction in endotoxemia and to explore a possible protective action of germanium (Ge) citrate obtained via nanotechnology we used LPS administration into female mice (3 mg/kg). Treatment with LPS caused patho­logical changes in mouse ovaries at 24h post-injection: an impairment of oocyte maturation in vitro, DNA damage in granulosa cells (as estimated by DNA-comet assay) and a decrease in their viability by increasing both necrosis and apoptosis. Pretreatment of mice with Ge citrate (i.p. 100 mkg/kg, 2 injections: 24 h and 1 h before LPS) was effective to reduce genotoxic stress and cell death. Ge citrate administration to LPS-treated mice significantly enhanced oocyte quality (as indicated by improvement in oocyte maturation) that may be due to cytoprotective effect of this compound on surrounding follicular cells. Our results support potential therapeutic application of Ge citrate to improve reproductive function in endotoxemia.

Keywords

• germanium citrate
• lipopolysaccharide
• oocytes
• granulosa cells
• DNA damage
• apoptosis
• necrosis