Follicular Fluid Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

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Objective: The antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) has recently been shown to be present in the human ovary and has been suggested to play a role in follicular atresia and luteal steroidogenesis. Since follicular atresia might have a role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), we examined the enzymatic activity of SOD (SOD activity) in follicular fluid from infertile women with morphological and biochemical appearances of PCOS in comparison to a control group of women of proven fertility with non PCOS factor, undergoing IVF due to a current male factor problem. Design: The SOD activity in follicular fluid (FF) from women with morphological and biochemical features of PCOS undergoing IVF was measured in relation to that seen in FFs from women of proven fertility, without PCOS factors, undergoing IVF because of male factor problem. Materials and Methods: Seventeen follicular fluids were obtained from 4 patients with PCOS and 41 follicular fluids from 9 normally ovulating patients, undergoing IVF treatment. Follicular fluids were collected from follicles with a mean diameter above 17 mm on the day of oocyte collection. The FFs were carefully examined for oocytes, centrifuged and the supernatant spectral absorbency profile was examined to ensure absence of contamination by blood and flushing medium. The SOD activity in each sample was determined by a very sensitive indirect method using NADH as substrate and expressed as Unit of enzymatic activity/milligram of protein (U/mg protein). The total protein concentration was determined by a colorimetric method using a Sigma diagnostic Kit. Because the two groups of values were normally distributed, the Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: SOD activity was found to be present in all the follicular fluids from both groups of patients. The average SOD activity (±SD) in the control group was found to be 1.22 ± 0.26 U/mg protein, with a 95% Confidence Interval (C.I.) of 1.13 to 1.31 and a range from 0.78 to 1.96. Follicular fluid SOD activity detected from the PCOS patients was 0.89 ± 0.10 U/mg protein, with a 95% C.I. of 0.84 to 0.94 and ranging from 0.72 to 1.06, and it was statistically significantly lower than in the control levels; Student t-test: p<0.0001; (95% C.I.: 0.26 to 0.47). Conclusions: These preliminary data indicates that: (i) SOD activity is present in the ovarian follicular fluid of normal and PCOS patients and (ii) the SOD activity in follicular fluid from PCOS infertile women is significantly lower than that found in the control group of women, suggesting that SOD might have a role in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Further studies should address this question.