Impact of fluazuron on oocyte maturation: May the antiparasitic affect bovine reproduction?

CAMPAGNA, ANABELLA ANDREA; FABRA, MARIANA CAROLINA; SEOANE, ANALÍA; FURNUS, CECILIA CRISTINA; CARRANZA-MARTIN, ANA CRISTINA; NIKOLOFF, NOELIA

THERIOGENOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2024 vol. 227 p. 92 - 101

0093-691X

Fluazuron is a novel veterinary pour-on antitick formulation which can be applied simultaneously with bovinereproduction management strategies. Considering the economic importance of the livestock industry in manycountries, it is important to know whether antiparasitics such as fluazuron may cause embryonic loss. The aim ofthis study was to evaluate the toxicological effect of fluazuron on bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation. Thebest fluazuron concentrations were determined in a preliminary experiment on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1cells and further used to compare fluazuron toxicity in both study models. Results of the annexin V and alkalinesingle cell gel electrophoresis assays demonstrated that fluazuron caused cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in bovinecumulus cells at all the concentrations tested (50, 75 and 100 μg fluazuron/mL). The evaluation of corticalgranules and mitochondria distribution showed that cytoplasmic maturation was not affected by fluazurontreatment. However, a decrease in metaphase II + polar body, degenerate oocytes as well as disorganizedchromatin in polar body were observed at all concentrations tested. Whereas the fertilization process was notaltered by 50 μg/mL fluazuron, the embryo development rate decreased significantly. No significant differenceswere observed in any of the oxidative stress parameters assessed. This study contributes to a better understandingof fluazuron in bovines, suggesting that the antiparasitic may affect bovine reproduction and might cause embryoloss.