Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has deleterious effects on sperm motility and viability, as well as oocyte membrane and organelle structure. The aim was to assess the effects of cell phone radiation on preimplantation embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice. For superovulation, 20 female mice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 10 IU pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (Folligon® PMSG), followed by 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after 48 h. The zygotes (n = 150) from the control group were incubated for 4 days. The experimental zygotes (n = 150) were exposed to a cell phone emitting EMR with a frequency range 900–1800 MHz for 30 min on day 1. Then, all embryos were cultured in the time-lapse system and annotated based on time points from the 2-cell stage (t2) to hatched blastocyst (tHDyz), as well as abnormal cleavage patterns. Blastocyst viability was assessed using Hoechst and propidium iodide staining. Significant increases (P < 0.05) were observed in the cleavage division time points of t2, t8, t10, and t12 of the experimental group compared with the controls. In terms of blastocyst formation parameters, a delay in embryo development was observed in the experimental group compared with the controls. Data analysis of the time intervals between the two groups showed a significant difference in the s3 time interval (P < 0.05). Also, the rates of fragmentation, reverse cleavage, vacuole formation, and embryo arrest were significantly higher in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the cell survival rate in the experimental group was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Exposure to EMR has detrimental consequences for preimplantation embryo development in mice. These effects can manifest as defects in the cleavage stage and impaired blastocyst formation, leading to lower cell viability.

Microencapsulation of functioning cells for transplantation therapies is particularly promising, but the cells must retain their proper physiology and viability after being encapsulated. K-562 cells are multipotential and exhibit erythroid, megakaryocytic, or granulocytic properties that can be exploited by using an array of physiologically differentiating factors. The potential for cell differentiation makes it attractive the use of K-562 cells as functional model to the assessment of the effects of encapsulation on cell viability and physiology. Thus, alginate and hybrid alginate matrices were produced by extrusion technique for K-562 cell encapsulation. The produced systems were composed of bare alginate (1–3 wt%) and alginate in combination with chitosan or silica. The resulting materials were characterized by dynamic laser scattering, zeta potential measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. To assess viability, the encapsulated cells were subjected to the Trypan blue exclusion technique and NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase (MTT) assays; hemin-induced erythroid differentiation capacity was also evaluated. The encapsulated alginate-based systems were shown to be monomodal and bimodal, depending on the nature of the capsule, with mean sizes in the range between 414 and 4.129 nm. Encapsulated cells exhibited viability ratios compatible with their use for prolonged cell cultures. Erythroid differentiation occurred in the range between 39 and 44%. The present results allow the consideration of the viability of therapeutic cells encapsulated in both bare alginate and in hybrid matrices.

Phototrophic microorganisms are the dominant populations in microbial mats, which play an important role in stabilizing sediments, such as happens in the Ebro Delta. These microorganisms are exposed to low metal concentrations over a long period of time. Distinct methods have been used to evaluate their toxic effect on the preservation of these ecosystems. Nevertheless, most of these techniques are difficult to apply in isolated phototrophs because (i) they usually form consortia with heterotrophic bacteria, (ii) are difficult to obtain in axenic cultures, and (iii) do not grow on solid media.

In this study, and for the first time, a combination of fast, non-invasive, and in vivo Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) techniques were applied in a consortium of Scenedesmus sp. DE2009 to analyze its physiological state and viability under metal stress conditions. Microalga was more resistant to Pb followed by Cr and Cu. However, in multimetal combinations, the presence of Cu negatively affected microalga growth. Additionally, the inhibitory concentration (IC) values were also calculated by CLSM pigment analysis. The result determines a higher degree of toxicity for Cu and Cr in comparison to Pb. The high sensitivity of these CLSM-methods to detect low concentrations allows consideration of Scenedesmus sp. DE2009 as a good bioindicator of metal pollution in natural environments.

The aim of this study was to analyse the digestibility and viability of diatoms following gut passage through Aegla uruguayana.Crabs (n=28) and diatom samples were collected from Las Pencas Stream (Entre Ríos Province, Argentina).Organisms were allowed to graze on the source, then they were placed in aquaria to defecate. Samples of faecal and source materialwere analysed microscopically to quantify 'live', 'dying' and 'dead' diatoms, and inoculated onto Chu 10-infused agar culturesto observe cell viability. Significant differences were found among source and faeces content of 'live' and 'dead' cells(p<0.01). Nevertheless, the percentage of digestion after gut passage was only 11.5 %. Both agar cultures produced colonies thatincreased in cell density over time with significantly higher enhancement in faecal treatment (p<0.05). Evidence of digestionresistance and reproductive stimulation by gut passage could be tested in this experience.

Granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells differentiate in the uterine wall in pregnancy in mice but the mechanisms which control their differentiation and maintenance are unknown. In vivo, GMG cells share an intimate association with fibroblast-like stromal cells. The importance of this association has been assessed by examining the effects of withdrawal of stromal cell contact on GMG cell maintenance in vitro. When single cell suspensions of cells were prepared from mouse metrial glands there was a steady decline in numbers with days of culture but usually some remained at 7 d of culture. The ability of metrial gland cells to kill Wehi 164 target cells in 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assays was retained by cells cultured for at least 3 d. When explants of metrial gland were maintained in culture to allow GMG cell migration onto the culture flask, the attached GMG cells were lost by 1 d later. Overall, these results suggest that a juxtacrine regulatory mechanism maintains GMG cells. The rapid loss of unsupported GMG cells in culture has major implications in the design of assays to examine GMG cell function.