title: Reactive oxygen species in follicular fluid may serve as biochemical markers to determine ovarian aging and follicular metabolic age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in the process of ovarian aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follicular fluid (FF) from two randomly selected sibling follicles was collected from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and tested for hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A consists of seven women with whom each of the two sibling separate follicle yielded an oocyte that was later discordantly developed to a low- and top-quality embryo. Group B consists of 13 patients in whom one of the sibling follicle yielded an oocyte while the other did not (empty follicle). High-quality embryos were derived from follicles with lower H(2)O(2) levels compared to follicles from which poor-quality embryos developed (1.004 units ± 0.260 versus 1.145 units ± 0.236, p < 0.02). H(2)O(2) levels were significantly higher (0.951 units ± 0.233 versus 0.623 units ± 0.309, p < 0.001) in sibling follicles containing oocyte compared to empty follicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the process of ovarian ageing, there might be a gradual increase in H(2)O(2) level in the follicle. Finally, when the follicle ages and becomes empty of oocyte H(2)O(2) levels drops significantly. Therefore, H(2)O(2) levels in FF may serve as a possible marker to determine ovarian aging and follicular metabolic age.
authors.affiliation: Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Ramat Gan , Israel , and.
authors.forename: Shai E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Elizur
authors.forename: Oshrit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lebovitz
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orvieto
authors.forename: Jehoshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: Tidhar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zan-Bar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Ageing; H2O2; follicle; ovary; reactive oxygen species