Serum and Follicular Fluid Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Diminished Ovarian Reserve Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: The etiologies of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) are still poorly understood, and many factors such as age, autoimmunity, genetics, idiopathicity, iatrogenesis, and oxidative stress (OS) play a role. Oxidative cellular damage increases following reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced aging. This is the first study to evaluate the serum and follicular fluid (FF) thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients under 35 years of age with DOR undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: In this study, DOR was defined by the Poseidon criteria, and Poseidon group 3 women were selected as the study group (n = 40). The control group was composed of patients with the diagnosis of mild-moderate male factor infertility (n = 30). Results: The FF and serum native and total thiol levels, the markers of the antioxidant system, were significantly decreased in the DOR group compared with the control group (p = 0.021) (p = 0.037) (p = 0.029) (p = 0.04). On the other hand, we found no significant differences in the oxidant parameters between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: An intrinsic deficiency of antioxidants can play an important role in the etiology of DOR. The dietary addition of antioxidants could be beneficial in DOR patients.

Protective effect of bioactive components from Rubi fructus against oxidative damage in human ovarian granulosa cells induced by 2,2‐azobis (2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride

“…40 Markers of the antioxidant system in serum and follicular fluid of DOR patients were lower than the healthy individuals. 41 Thus, ROS-induced ovarian granulosa cell damage is strongly related to the DOR process. Rubi fructus possesses excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiaging, and other biological functions owing to its richness in functional phytochemicals.…”

“…24,46 Excess ROS produced by AAPH bind to lipids in the cell membrane, attack intracellular proteins, cause DNA damage, or disrupt mitochondrial function, similar to the clinical manifestations of the DOR process. 40,41 Moreover, AAPH offers a suitable model for assessing bioactivities and cytoprotective effects of phytochemicals. 47 As a preliminary step we screened the bioactivity of TS, KR, KS, IQ, TA, OA, VA, and EA derived from R. fructus in KGN cells, considering AAPH-induced oxidative damage.…”

“…Ovarian granulosa cells from DOR patients exhibited marked mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, or senescence phenotypes 40 . Markers of the antioxidant system in serum and follicular fluid of DOR patients were lower than the healthy individuals 41 . Thus, ROS‐induced ovarian granulosa cell damage is strongly related to the DOR process.…”

“…It is a common generator of free radicals, decomposed into nitrogen and two R˙ radicals under heat around 37 °C, producing ROO˙, ROOR radicals, or R‐R products by diffusion or reaction with oxygen 24,46 . Excess ROS produced by AAPH bind to lipids in the cell membrane, attack intracellular proteins, cause DNA damage, or disrupt mitochondrial function, similar to the clinical manifestations of the DOR process 40,41 . Moreover, AAPH offers a suitable model for assessing bioactivities and cytoprotective effects of phytochemicals 47 …”