They are called in vitro tests of reproductive toxicity and are part of the High Level Technological Service (STAN) offered by two CONICET scientists at the Institute of Veterinary Genetics (IGEVET, CONICET-UNLP) to companies in the cosmetic sector and personal use items, as well as those linked to agrochemicals, medications, medical supplies and even food, that want to guarantee that their products do not have adverse effects for short, medium or long-term human fertility. **“Knowing that information provides the possibility of adding an added value to the articles and highlighting them above other similar ones”, explained Noelia Nikoloff and Ana Carranza-Martin, the researchers in charge of the tests.
Dedicated to applied biotechnology to animal reproduction, specifically to the improvement of bovine embryos for the meat and milk industry, scientists saw great potential in their field of study to extend laboratory tests to other products. Above all, guiding the results towards human fertility, to evaluate possible toxic effects during the early stages of the reproductive cycle, that is, in gametes - subsidy and sperm -, in fertilization and in early embryonic development. “The procedures we do are those that are carried out for in vitro fertilization both animal and human; These are tests already validated worldwide but that we adapted and put ready in our work space”, said Nikoloff.
In line with dermal, ocular and inhalation corrosion trials that are required to companies for their products, this initiative adds a series of tests that, it is worth clarifying, they are not mandatory currently in Argentina: those that indicate whether any of its components could be harmful to female or masculine fertility. “Unlike regular tests, which have to do with irritation or allergic reactions, these are not immediate or easy to visualize effects. You can spend years and it is very difficult for someone to attribute their difficulty in conceiving a pregnancy or loss of gestations to prolonged use of a cream or medication, for example. In this way, brands can add a plus to the quality of their products ensuring that they have no harmful effects on reproductive health," explained Carranza-Martin.
And what is that eventual toxicity? In the case of the oocyte, the cell that will become an ovule, can suffer damage to DNA or greater oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance that will make it difficult to be fertilized. “What we do here is a oocyte maturation test to see if it meets in a timely manner with all its stages of development, since the failures in this instance can, or directly make it infertile, or cause delays that will later prevent a blastocyst, the stage prior to the implementation of the embryo in the uterus,” described the researchers. “In the sperm, we analyze whether there is deterioration of the membrane or motility is affected, which is the ability to move quickly and straight. Finally, embryos tests consist of analyzing the quality of cells and their correct division according to each stage.”, they added.
In recent years, different scientific studies have revealed that many chemical compounds used in various industries are endocrine disruptor, that is, they can alter the body hormonal system. Over time, companies have been reducing or eliminating their use, and when they do they do not skimp in advertising to make it known: some of the best known are the parabens, phthalates and benzofenone 3 (BP-3), the latter an organic substance used in sunscreen for their ability to absorb UV rays. “The interesting thing about the tests we performed is that they do not only involve the negative effects, but we also measure what happens to different concentrations and then we can determine the limits to which these compounds can be used without being harmful to health,” said the researchers.
The tests are performed with bovine cells obtained from ovaries that are discarded from local frigorifics and cryo-preserved sperm. This reproductive model is more similar to the human than laboratory rats and, as an extra benefit, testing in animals is avoided. The evidence developed by Nikoloff and Carranza-Martin are a service that is offered through a startup, called Assays. This mechanism, which materializes the applied aspect of science and its relationship with society, also translates into financial support that enables scientists and their work space to deepen their scientific research and enhance the scope of their results.
- The article Testean posibles efectos en la salud en productos médicos, cosméticos y de higiene personal, was written by Mercedes Benialgo.