Reactive oxygen species level in follicular fluid--embryo quality marker in IVF?
BACKGROUND
The impact of oxidative stress in female reproduction is not clear. Contradictory reports on the effect of various oxidative stress markers on follicular fluid, oocytes and embryo quality and fertilization potential exist. The objectives of this study were to examine reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF and to relate these levels to embryo formation and quality.


RESULTS
A total of 208 follicular fluid samples were obtained from 78 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and analysed for ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO). These samples were divided into groups I and II which represented follicular fluid containing grade III and grade II oocytes, respectively. These groups were further subdivided into groups IA, IB, IIA and IIB according to embryo quality. Subgroups IA and IIA consisted of follicular fluid samples corresponding to grade I/II embryo formation. Subgroups IB and IIB represented fertilization failure/pro-nucleolus (PN) arrest/grade III embryos. No significant correlation was observed in ROS levels on comparing groups I and II (P > 0.05). However, ROS levels were observed to be significantly different on comparing groups IA and IB (P < or = 0.01) and groups IIA and IIB (P < or = 0.05). LPO levels further supported our results.


CONCLUSIONS
ROS levels in follicular fluid appear to play a significant role in embryo formation and quality.
Das
S
S
School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
Chattopadhyay
R
R
Ghosh
S
S
Ghosh
S
S
Goswami
S K
SK
Chakravarty
B N
BN
Chaudhury
K
K
D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004628:Embryonic Structures / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013997:Time Factors
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species