Protective Effect of Vitamin B₁₂ on Hypoxia-Induced Oxidative Stress: A Biochemical Evaluation in a Whole Embryo Culture Model

Year 2025, Issue: 1, 1 - 9, 30.12.2025

Dilara Patat

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin B₁₂ on oxidative stress mechanisms under in vitro hypoxic conditions in rat embryos.
Materials and Methods: Rat embryos obtained between gestational days 9.5 and 11.5 were divided into six groups using the Whole Embryo Culture (WEC) system: control (C), hypoxia (H), low-dose vitamin B₁₂ (LDvitB₁₂), hypoxia + low-dose B₁₂ (H+LDvitB₁₂), high-dose B₁₂ (HDvitB₁₂), and hypoxia + high-dose B₁₂ (H+HDvitB₁₂). Low and high doses were applied at 10 µM and 100 µM, respectively. Oxidative stress was assessed through the analysis of TBARS, SOD, CAT, GPx, TAC, TOS, OSI, and GSH/GSSG parameters.
Results: In the hypoxia group, TBARS and TOS levels were significantly elevated, while SOD, CAT, GPx, and TAC activities were reduced (p<0.001). The GSH/GSSG ratio decreased, and OSI values increased. Vitamin B₁₂ treatment, particularly at the high dose (H+HDvitB₁₂), led to marked improvements in these parameters. Both embryo and yolk sac tissues showed decreased TBARS and TOS levels, increased TAC, reduced OSI values, and recovery of the GSH/GSSG ratio.
Conclusion: Vitamin B₁₂ supplementation mitigated the biochemical imbalances caused by hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in embryo and yolk sac tissues, enhanced antioxidant defense, and supported redox homeostasis. These findings suggest that vitamin B₁₂ may serve as a protective agent against hypoxia-related oxidative damage during early embryonic development.

Keywords

Embryo development , hypoxia , oxidative stress , vitamin B₁₂ , whole embryo culture

Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol was reviewed and approved by the Erciyes Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (Approval No: 15/129). All procedures involving animals were performed in accordance with institutional guidelines and the European Directive 2010/63/EU for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

Supporting Institution

This research has not been supported by any institution.

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