Effect of edible bird’s nest on endometrial receptivity and fertility of rats subjected to indomethacin and lead acetate toxicity

The Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be derived from various sources which include pharmaceutical products and toxic heavy metals as environmental pollutants such as lead (Pb). Indomethacin (IMC) used as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) is a pharmaceutical product reported to be embryotoxic leading to disruption of implantation process when given at doses higher than the therapeutic limit. Edible bird's nest (EBN), produced by Swiftlets (Aerodramus fuciphagus), considered in this study due to its composition and bioactive properties as antioxidative, and promoting cell-growth. The main objectives of the present study were to determine the optimal dose of IMC to cause embryo implantation dysfunction in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats without compromising their overall health, and to assess EBN's protective role against IMC’s and PbA's toxicity effect on reproductive function and pregnancy. Effect of EBN in its raw form supplement on EID induced by IMC toxicity was assessed. A total of 30 (6x5 groups) of SD rats (untreated control, a positive control with IMC (4.33 mg/kg bwt), and 3 treatment groups with same IMC dose and EBN (60, 90, and 120 mg/kg bwt) were recruited. The next phase of the study was aimed at evaluating the prophylactic role of EBN supplement against PbA toxicity on pregnant rats' ovarian and uterine functions. Two forms of EBN, raw and hydrolysed (REBN & HEBN) were used. The experimental setting was similar with that of the previous study, except for the toxic agent used here is PbA (10 mg/kg bwt) and additional replicates for HEBN used at doses of 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg bwt, given orally for a period of 8 weeks. In summary, the findings revealed leads to the conclusion that IMC (at a dose of 4.33 mg/kg bwt) can be used to deter embryo implantation in SD rats with minimal damage to vital organs for reproductive toxicity studies. EBN counteracts the harmful effects and protects the reproductive system in a multimodal mechanism by modulating redox balance, enhanced production steroid hormones and expressions of growth factors as well as promoting cell growth and proliferation. The reduction in MT expression and Pb deposition in ovarian and uterine tissues along with higher EBN dose supplementation might reflect the potential role of EBN as chelating agent in the gut as well as enhancing detoxification and excretion of Pb by the vital organs such as liver and kidney, requiring further study to verify. Comparing the two forms of EBN (REBN & HEBN), doses of 90 &120 mg/kg bwt/day of REBN and 60 mg/kg bwt/day performed best while 90 and 120 mg/kg bwt/day of REBN appears to be most superior considering all the variables studied. Lastly, the observed findings on EBN as supplement to enhance reproduction coincides with one of the reasons of consumption of EBN.

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