Toxicological effects of acrylamide on oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development in a porcine model

Acrylamide (ACR) is a highly water-soluble vinyl monomer that is widely used in industrial applications. It can be released into aquatic environments through industrial effluents and subsequently transported into soil and groundwater. In addition to environmental exposure, ACR is formed during high-temperature cooking processes. Although ACR is well documented to exert neurotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects, its impact on the female reproductive system remains insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of ACR exposure during in vitro maturation (IVM) on porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent embryonic development following parthenogenetic activation. ACR exposure significantly reduced the proportion of matured oocytes and downregulated the transcriptional levels of genes associated with oocyte maturation compared with controls. Furthermore, ACR treatment during IVM markedly compromised embryonic developmental parameters, as evidenced by decreased cleavage rates; reduced proportions of two-cell, four-cell, and morula-stage embryos; a lower blastocyst formation rate; and an increased fragmentation rate relative to controls. ACR exposure during IVM also impaired blastocyst quality, as indicated by reduced total cell numbers and an elevated apoptosis rate compared with controls. In addition, ACR exposure disrupted cell cycle progression and cytoskeletal integrity. Moreover, ACR treatment increased levels of reactive oxygen species while decreasing glutathione content and mitochondrial abundance compared with controls. ACR exposure also elevated DNA damage, autophagy, and early apoptosis in oocytes. ACR exposure during IVM exerts detrimental effects on porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent embryonic development by inducing cell cycle arrest, oxidative stress, DNA damage, excessive autophagy, and early apoptosis.