INFLUENCE OF THE ANTIANDROGEN HYDROXYFLUTAMIDE ON IN-VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF MOUSE EMBRYOS

Hydroxyflutamide is a potent nonsteroidal anti-androgenic drug extensi vely used in laboratory investigations. Our present studies were aimed at determining whether this antiandrogen modulates development of emb ryos in vitro. One-cell and two-cell mouse embryos were collected by f lushing the oviducts and cultured in defined culture media in the pres ence or absence of various doses of hydroxyflutamide. The development of embryos from one-cell and two-cell to blastocyst stage was assessed . Hydroxyflutamide caused a dose-dependent (0-100 mu g ml(-1)) inhibit ion of development of both one-cell and two-cell embryos; 100% inhibit ion was observed at 20 mu g ml(-1). The adverse effects of hydroxyflut amide on two-cell embryo development were completely reversed by testo sterone in a dose-dependent manner, but not by oestradiol and progeste rone. These results indicate that the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide in hibits early embryo development suggesting that it may be useful durin g the preimplantation period for preventing conception.