Melamine exposure during the weaning period negatively affects ovarian reserve

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-10, Vol.30 (47), p.104805-104813
• Main Authors: Erisgin, Zuleyha, Barak, Mensure Zuhal, Usta, Murat, Tekelioglu, Yavuz, Turkoglu, Ismail, Mutlu, Hasan Serdar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Annexin V; Anti-Mullerian Hormone - metabolism; Anti-Mullerian Hormone - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Corpus luteum; Diameters; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Exposure; Female; Flow cytometry; Follicles; Melamine; Ovarian Follicle; Ovarian Reserve; Ovaries; Ovary; Rats; Research Article; Statistical analysis; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Weaning
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29752-7

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of melamine exposure since the weaning period on ovarian tissue and ovarian reserve. Melamine is illegally added to milk and formula to provide high false protein positivity. Female rats (the weaning period = 21 days old, n = 18) were divided into 3 groups. 0.1 mL saline was applied to the control group by gavage for 21 days. Fifty mg/kg and seventy-five mg/kg melamine was dissolved in 0.1 mL of saline and applied by gavage for 21 days, respectively. At the end of the experiment, plasma anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was measured, follicle count and ovarian diameter measurement were performed in the right ovaries, and flow cytometric analysis for apoptosis was performed in the left ovaries. While a statistically significant decrease was not observed in the number of the follicle and ovarian diameter between the control and melamine-treated groups ( p > 0.05), a significant decrease in the corpus luteum and a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles were observed ( p < 0.05). Apoptosis (Annexin V) increased in both melamine groups and AMH plasma level decreased significantly in the 75 mg/kg group ( p < 0.05). Melamine exposure from the weaning (early postnatal) period may cause a decrease in ovarian reserve in parallel with a dose increase.