Cadmium disturbs epigenetic modification and induces DNA damage in mouse preimplantation embryos

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant that has extensive deleterious effects on the reproductive system. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of cadmium on preimplantation embryos are unclear. Here, we used a mouse model to investigate the effects of maternal cadmium (32 mg/l) exposure in drinking water for 2 days on early embryonic development, and studied the mechanisms associated with epigenetic modifications and DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. We observed that maternal cadmium exposure impaired preimplantation embryo development by inducing embryo death, fragmentation, or developmental blockade. After cadmium exposure, the most survived embryos were at the 8-cell stage, which were used for all measurements. Histone acetylation, not methylation, was disturbed by increasing histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) levels after cadmium exposure. Cadmium also disrupted DNA methylation of H19; however genomic DNA methylation can be normally reprogrammed in embryos. Furthermore, cadmium increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA damage, and partly inhibited gene expression related to DNA repair. The distribution and activity of mitochondria was increased; therefore, embryos maintain intracellular homeostasis for survival. Collectively, our findings revealed that maternal cadmium exposure impairs preimplantation embryo development by disturbing the epigenetic modification and inducing DNA damage.

Automated summary

This study demonstrated that maternal cadmium exposure impairs preimplantation embryo development by disturbing epigenetic modification and inducing DNA damage. The exposure to cadmium led to embryo death, fragmentation, and developmental blockade, while affecting histone acetylation and disrupting DNA methylation of H19. Additionally, cadmium increased reactive oxygen species levels and DNA damage, while partly inhibiting gene expression related to DNA repair. Mitochondrial distribution and activity were also increased, contributing to intracellular homeostasis for embryo survival.