Mouse sperm-egg interaction in vitro in the presence of neem oil

Life Sci. 1993;53(18):PL279-84. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(93)90587-s.

Abstract

In vitro evidence is presented showing toxicity of neem oil on sperm-egg interaction in mouse. Cumulus oophorus-enclosed ova, inseminated with capacitated spermatozoa, were cultured in 1 ml of in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium and overlayered by 1 ml of different concentrations of neem oil (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100%) for IVF duration of 4h. At the end of incubation, ova were allowed to grow in neem oil-free culture medium and assessed for fertilization, first cleavage (2-cell formation) and blastocyst formation in vitro at 4-14h, 24h and 108h post-insemination respectively. The study showed that the presence of neem oil at concentrations of 10, 25 and 50% caused inhibition of IVF in a dose-dependent manner. The toxic effect of exposure of 25 and 50% neem oil was further carried over to the first cleavage of the resulting fertilized ova and the toxic effect of 5, 10, 25 and 50% was carried over to the blastocyst formation from the resulting fertilized ova when grown in neem-oil free culture medium. A total of 94.1% inhibition of 2-cell formation and 100% inhibition of blastocyst formation from the inseminated ova was observed in 50 and 25% neem oil-treated groups respectively. Neem oil at 100% concentration caused 100% degeneration of ova at 1h of sperm-ova coculture. The study showed a direct toxic effect of neem oil on sperm-egg interaction in vitro and encourages research investigations of this herbal product as a pre-coital contraceptive.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Contraceptive Agents, Female / toxicity*
  • Culture Media
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro
  • Glycerides / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Ovum / drug effects
  • Ovum / physiology
  • Plant Oils / toxicity
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Terpenes / toxicity*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Culture Media
  • Glycerides
  • Plant Oils
  • Terpenes
  • neem oil