title: Characteristics of follicular fluid in ovaries with endometriomas.
abstract: The study of follicular fluid (FF) content nearby endometriomas may assist in elucidating pathophysiology, possible biomarkers related to this disease and the effect of endometriomas on ovarian physiology. As the question "how endometrioma may intrude the physiology of ovarian tissue?" is still open, we aimed to summarize the molecular evidence supporting the idea that endometriomas can negatively influence the content of the surrounding ovarian follicles. An alteration of the iron metabolism and an increased ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation characterize the intrafollicular environment adjacent to endometriomas. Other potentially negative effects include decreased testosterone and anti-Mullerian hormone FF levels although these have been only partially clarified. Alterations in lipid and proteomic patterns have been also observed in FF samples nearby endometriomas. The possibility that endometriomas per se may influence IVF clinical results as a consequence of the detrimental impact on the local intrafollicular environment is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarais
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Soha Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Beitawi
authors.affiliation: Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: vigano.paola@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
mesh_terms: D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040901:Proteomics; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Endometrioma; Follicular fluid; Iron; Reactive oxygen species