Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 8 pp 2241—2252
Exposure to aristolochic acid I compromises the maturational competency of porcine oocytes via oxidative stress-induced DNA damage
Figure 7. Effects of AAI exposure on the sperm binding and fertilization of porcine oocytes. (A) Representative images of eggs and two-cell embryos bound by sperm. Eggs and two-cell embryos from control and AAI-exposed groups were incubated with capacitated sperm for 1 h to carry out the sperm binding assay. Scale bar, 30 μm. (B) The number of sperm binding to the surface of zona pellucida surrounding eggs from control and AAI-exposed groups was counted, respectively. (C) Representative images of fertilized eggs in control and AAI-exposed groups. Scale bar, 100μm (a, b); 50 μm (c, d). (D) In vitro fertilization rate was recorded in control and AAI-exposed oocytes. Data in (B) and (D) were presented as mean percentage (mean ± SEM) of at least three independent experiments. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.