Effect of rare earth on maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mouse oocytes

  Objective   To evaluate the repr oductive toxicity of rare earth(RE).The effects of RE on development, maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mouse oocytes were studied.

  Methods   The mice were injected with mixed RE for 10 days.After superovulation, mouse oocytes were collected and were activated with SrCl₂.

  Results   Treatments with RE exceeded 400mg/(kg·d)made extremely marked effects on the quantity or rate of living oocytes, maturation oocytes, and activated oocytes.

  Conclusion   RE beyond a certain dose obviously inhibifed the development, maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mouse oocytes, which implied that RE made reproductive to xicity on development of germ cells and fertilization in mammals and human being.