Investigation of the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on malathion toxicity- exposed mouse oocyte maturation via egfr mediated ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Objective: This project aims to investigate the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on the in vitro maturation process of oocytes exposed to malathion toxicity. Material and Methods: In this study, 6-8 week-old female BALB/C mice were injected with PMSG, and 48 hours later, their ovaries were collected. The isolated cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in an in vitro maturation medium. Effective doses of malathion and astaxanthin were determined to establish the experimental groups. Spindle and chromosome structures were examined using immunofluorescence imaging, ERK1/2 activation was analyzed, intracellular ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured, and apoptosis rates were assessed. Gene expressions related to ERK1/2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. The data were evaluated using variance analysis and chi-square test with SPSS software. Results: Based on the obtained experimental results, it was observed that malathion decreased oocyte maturation rates, increased the percentage of defective spindle fibers and scattered chromosomes, elevated intracellular ROS levels, reduced mitochondrial activity, triggered early apoptotic processes, and inhibited ERK1/2 activation. However, it was determined that astaxanthin supplementation counteracted the adverse effects induced by malathion. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the harmful effects of malathion on cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) isolated from BALB/C mice and the protective potential of astaxanthin. Malathion adversely affects oocyte viability and maturation, while astaxanthin ameliorates these effects. These findings suggest that astaxanthin could be a supportive agent in infertility treatments.