Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 11, 2270-2274,
November 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Antioxidants and reactive oxygen species in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF: relationship to outcome
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and 4 Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, London, 2 London Female and Male Fertility Centre, London and 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK.
5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. e-mail: hardiman{at}rfc.ucl.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: The role of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in female reproductive function is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate their relationship with ovulation, fertilization and conception. METHODS: Follicular aspirates obtained from women undergoing IVF following controlled ovarian stimulation were evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay for baseline total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Both the baseline TAC and the decline in TAC over 72 h (two-point assay) were used as markers of oxygen radical activity. RESULTS: A total of 303 follicular aspirates from 63 women were analysed. Two hundred and eighteen (71.9%) yielded oocytes, 169 (77.5%) of these fertilized and 134 (79.3%) of these embryos survived until the time of embryo transfer. Baseline TAC was no different in follicular fluid whether the follicle contained an oocyte or not, but was significantly higher in fluid from follicles whose oocyte successfully fertilized and significantly lower in fluid from follicles where the resultant embryo survived to transfer. The decline in TAC was lower when the oocytes fertilized and higher in association with embryo viability, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide further evidence that ROS play a role in female reproductive function.
Key words: antioxidants/follicular fluid/free radicals/reproduction
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