title: Release of superoxide dismutase-1 by day 3 embryos of varying quality and implantation potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the antioxidant superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1 or Cu,Zn-SOD) is released by cultured human cleavage-stage embryos and to assess any link between SOD1 and implantation potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (n = 91; ≤40 years old) undergoing IVF treatment with transfer of one or two 8-cell embryos that resulted in 0 or 100% implantation were included. Following individual embryo culture, spent medium samples (n = 122) were collected and levels of SOD1 protein were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SOD1 detection and concentration in embryo spent medium were analyzed in relation to embryo fragmentation and symmetry scores, and implantation (viable fetus at >12 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cleavage-stage embryos release SOD1 protein into the spent culture medium. Neither detection nor concentration of SOD1 was related to implantation. There was a positive relationship between increased embryo fragmentation scores and SOD1 release, with no apparent association with symmetry. In non-pregnant cycles, the release of SOD1 decreased with increasing maternal age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While SOD1 does not predict implantation potential of select good-quality embryos, our data support the need to evaluate the biological significance of released SOD1 by embryos of varying quality and from patients of varying age.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA. ccombell@middlebury.edu
authors.forename: Catherine M H
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Combelles
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holick
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Racowsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1
chemical_list: C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1