Abstract
BackgroundPeritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis can inhibit early embryo development via probable functional changes of embryo mitochondria in the early stage of embryo development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PF from patients with endometriosis on mitochondrial function and development of early mouse embryos.Methodology/Principal FindingsPF was collected from patients with infertility and endometriosis, infertility due to tubal factors, and normal control subjects, and the level of NO was measured. Early murine embryos were then cultured with PF from normal control subjects, those with endometriosis, and with human tubal fluid (HTF), respectively. Cleavage and blastulation rates, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of the different groups were compared. The NO level in the PF of patients with endometriosis was significantly greater than in those without endometriosis and control patients. The embryos cultures with PF from patients with endometriosis had a lower cleavage rate and blastulation rate, and higher ATP and ΔΨm level at the 2- and 4-cell stages. No significant difference was found in mtDNA copies among the 3 groups.Conclusions/SignificancePF from patients with endometriosis can inhibit early embryo development via probable functional changes of embryo mitochondria in the early stage of embryo development. Understanding the effects of PF on embryo development may assist in developing new methods of treatment for infertility.
Highlights
Epidemiological studies have shown that endometriosis is strongly associated with infertility; the exact mechanism of endometriosis-induced infertility remains unclear [1,2,3]
Cells cultured with peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis had a significantly lower cleavage rate and blastulation rate than both the human tubal fluid (HTF)-control group and cells cultured with PF from patients without endometriosis (P,0.05)
There was no significant difference in the cleavage rate and blastulation rate between the HTF-control group and the group cultured with fluid from patients without endometriosis (Figure 2)
Summary
Epidemiological studies have shown that endometriosis is strongly associated with infertility; the exact mechanism of endometriosis-induced infertility remains unclear [1,2,3]. Pelvic peritoneal fluid (PF) is the complex of fallopian tubal fluid and peritoneal and ovarian secretions which contains a variety of cellular and non-cellular components These fluids encircle the ovaries and can penetrate into the fallopian tube cavity, forming the microenvironment for sperm-egg fertilization and embryo development. Significant immune activity changes are present in the PF of patients with endometriosis [7], which is characterized by increases in a variety of cytokines, interleukins, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) [8,9]. These changes result in a markedly deteriorated microenvironment for the early embryo. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PF from patients with endometriosis on mitochondrial function and development of early mouse embryos
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