Protective effect of spirulina (arthrospira platensis) on in vitro fertilization (ivf) and embryo development in female mice treated with cyclophosphamide

Golchin Moosavi toomatari,1,* Shapoor hasanzadeh,2 Hasan malekinejad,3 Gholamreza najafi,4 Parisa saghaei ,5

1. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia Iran
2. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia Iran
3. Department of Pharmacy ,Urmia University of Medical Sciences
4. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia Iran
5. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Azad University of Shabestar

Abstract

Introduction

Cyclophosphamide is an extensively used chemotherapeutic agent against wide varieties of neoplastic ailments, which has been known to cause ovarian damages and infertility in mammals. the purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of spirulina platensis on in vitro fertilization (ivf) and embryo development in adult mice exposed to cyclophosphamide.

Methods

40adult female mice were divided into 8 groups each comprised 5 animals. the first group was considered as control. the groups 2, 3 and 4 were received spirulina at rates of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively through oral route, daily for 28 days. the 5th group was received cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg, ip) in a single-dose. groups 6, 7 and 8 were received cyclophosphamide and spirulina together with aforementioned doses. in vitro fertilization and embryo development were assessed in all groups at the end of experiment.

Results

The groups which received spirulina at rates of 200, 400 mg/kg beside cyclophosphamide in comparison to group which received merely cyclophosphamide, the number of oocytes, percentages of fertilization, two-cell embryos, blastocysts and hached embryos were reduced and this reduction were significant (p<0.05) in fertilization, two-cell embryo, but at dose of 800 mg/kg was not able to reduce damages brought by cyclophosphamide.

Conclusion

According to the results of this study, spirulina encourages protective effects on cyclophosphamide induced reprotoxicity on in vitro fertilization approach.

Keywords

Spirulina, cyclophosphamide, in vitro fertilization, mouse