Impact of Apricot Kernel Oil on Reproductive Toxicity in Mice: Insights into Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathways During Early Pregnancy

Background: When the endometrium matures in step with the required morphological changes, blastocyst implantation occurs more effectively. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the reproductive toxicity of apricot kernel oil (AK oil) by using an animal model of early pregnancy in adult BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult BALB/c mice were first acclimated and then mated. Thirty-two confirmed pregnant mice were allocated into four groups. Monitoring involved recording weight gain and abortion rates, and on gestation day 15 the animals were euthanized for collection of tissue and blood samples. Hematological analysis was performed to evaluate multiple blood indices, while levels of sex hormones and serum inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) were measured. Antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and thiol content in uterine tissue were determined, and gene expression associated with the p53/Cas-3/Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway was assessed by RT-qPCR. Results: Exposure to AK oil resulted in significant (p <0.05) decreases in maternal weight gain and placental weight, together with a significant (p <0.05) increase in uterine weight. Hematological findings demonstrated raised WBC and lymphocyte counts, along with significantly reduced (p <0.05) progesterone and estrogen concentrations. Elevated (p <0.05) cytokine levels were observed at the higher AK oil doses. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation (p <0.05) of pro-apoptotic genes and downregulation (p <0.05) of Bcl-2, collectively indicating adverse effects of AK oil on early pregnancy. Conclusion: Accumulation of AK oil may stimulate the HPG axis and consequently promote reactive oxygen species generation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial apoptosis, and reproductive toxicity.