Effects of maternal selenium-supplementation at varying stages of periconception period on murine blasctocyst morphology and implantation status

• Main Author: Mamon, Mark Anthony C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Pregnancy; Selenium; Trace elements; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5095
• Institution: De La Salle University

Selenium is an important trace element for normal reproductive health, but there is a call to determine the best periconception stage for selenium supplementation to promote successful pregnancy outcome. Hence, this study aims to assess the effects of maternal Selenium-supplementation at varying stages of periconception period on murine blastocyst morphometric measurements, percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts, and implantation status. ICR female mice were randomly assigned into the unsupplemented group (Group I) receiving basal diet without selenium, and treatment groups given with 3.0μg selenium-supplement per day during pregestation only (Group II), pregestation throughout- gestation (Group III) and gestation only (Group IV). Both blastocyst morphology and implantation status were assessed. Results showed that morphometric measurements of blastocysts appeared to be unaffected by selenium-supplementation at different periconception stages. Selenium supplementation at pregestation only (Group II) and gestation only (Group IV) produced higher percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts and lower percent pre-implantation loss relative to Group III, probably because of the enhancement of the antioxidant selenoproteins on these stages. Selenium-supplementation during pregestation only also improved pre-implantation status by enhancing endometrial receptivity to blastocysts. Among treatment groups, selenium supplementation during pregestation-to-gestation (Group III) yielded low quality blastocysts and high percent pre-implantation loss, which can possibly be due on its adverse effects on glucose metabolism promoting excessive ROS production, and on the metabolic clearance rate of selenium. In conclusion, selenium supplementation during pregestation only and gestation only are the best stages to yield high percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts and pre-implantation success.