Oxidant and antioxidant status of erythrocytes and plasma samples in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common types of endocrine syndromes in women, where the disease is described as chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, which characterized by the formation of small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries. This study was carried out to introduce knowledge when plasma and erythrocytes portions were chosen to compare the antioxidant and oxidant status of PCOS patients treated and without treatment with Metformin. Samples were included 75 women diagnostics with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria. The control group included healthy volunteers with regular menstrual cycles and with no symptoms of hyperandrogenism. Total Antioxidants Capacity (TAC), total Oxidant Status (TOS), and CuZn SOD enzyme activity were examined in both plasma and erythrocytes. The activity of the CuZn SOD enzyme was determined based on the ability of the enzyme to inhibit the autoxidation of pyrogallol. TAC values were significantly decreased in PCOS patients and the content in plasma was significantly higher than in Erythrocytes. On the other hand, the TOS values were in the opposite pattern, they were significantly increased in patients and higher in erythrocytes than plasma. The activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly higher in patients’ samples than in controls. This enzyme displayed higher activity values in samples from erythrocytes than the plasma and the highest activity was 61.9±3 U/ml. As the data for both TOS and SOD1 activity introduces the same pattern in blood samples, TAC values introduce a different line of responses. In considering Metformin’s effect on previous criteria, this drug significantly decreased the TAC, TOS and SOD1, activity group. as this drug is responsible for the reduction of circulating insulin and increasing the glucose uptake by peripheral tissues