Abstract:

 OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of doxorubicin on the development of cultured preantral follicles in female ICR mice and explore the preliminary mechanism of ovarian toxicity. METHODS：Cultured ovarian preantral follicles taken from day 12-14 female ICR mice were treated for 24 h with various concentrations of doxorubicin (0.4，0.8，1.6 and 3.2 μg/mL) on cultured day 2，6 or 11. Following the treatment，follicles were cultured to the endpoint. Follicle diameter measurement，follicle viability and cumulus-oocyte cell complexes (COCs) ovulation rate were used to confirm the effect on preantral follicle development. RESULTS：Compared to the control group， doxorubicin at the concentrations of 1.6 and 3.2 μg/mL could inhibit ovarian preantral follicle development (P<0.05)， decrease the viability (P<0.05) and inhibit COCs ovulation (P<0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner.  CONCLUSION： Doxorubicin could significantly inhibit the development of ovarian preantral follicles，decrease the viability and inhibit COCs ovulation，which could induce ovarian toxicity and dysfunction.

Key words: doxorubicin, preantral follicles, reproductive toxicity, cumulus-oocyte cell complexes