title: The Effect of Reactive Oxygen Species on Embryo Quality in IVF.
abstract: BACKROUND/AIM: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in critical biological processes in human reproduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of embryo quality following in vitro fertilization (IVF), with ROS levels in the serum and follicular fluid (FF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five participants underwent ovarian stimulation and IVF; ROS levels were measured in blood samples on the day of oocyte retrieval and in the FF from follicular aspirates using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These values were associated with the quality of embryos generated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariable zero-inflated Poisson model revealed that ROS levels at both oocyte retrieval and in FF were not associated with the number of grade I, II, III and IV embryos (p>0.05). Age, body mass index, stimulation protocol and smoking status were not associated with the number of embryos of any grade (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither ROS levels in serum nor in FF are associated with the quality of embryos produced following IVF.
authors.affiliation: Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece harrysiri@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Siristatidis
authors.affiliation: Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogiatzi
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varounis
authors.affiliation: Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marily
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Askoxylaki
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrelias
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papantoniou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: IVF; Reactive oxygen species; assisted reproduction; embryo quality