The relationship between pregnancy and oxidative stress markers on patients undergoing IVF/IUI

Abstract

The effects of oxidative stress (OS) on female reproductive functions are not clear; however OS is believed to play an important role in endometriosis, PCOS, and unexplained infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of reproductive hormones on OS markers on women undergoing hormonal stimulation for IVF or IUI cycles. This is a prospective IRB approved study. Blood samples obtained from 15 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with rFSH or hMG were divided into two groups. Grp-1 was baseline blood collected on day-2-3 of women cycle. Grp-2 is blood collected at the end of FSH/hMG injection. Serum was collected and stored in LN2 tanks at -196oC until analysis. Standard IVF and IUI procedures were followed. The serum levels of Superoxide Dismutases (SOD), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA kits (Cayman Chemical); the Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) was spectrophotometically measured (ZeptoMetrix Co.). Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. The mean age of patients was (33.3 ± 3.4 yrs) and etiology of infertility was endometriosis (n = 7), PCOS (n = 2), and unexplained (n = 6). Results in Table-1 show a significant positive correlation between levels of E2 and that of SOD, GPx and IL-6. Pregnancies were recorded among 7 of the 15 couples. Interleukin-6 was significantly (P=0.02) higher in pregnant than non-pregnant group. SOD and GPx levels was not different between pregnant and non-pregnant groups.Tabled 1Oxidative Stress Markers & Estradiol levels in Serum of Women Before & After Hormonal Stimulations (Mean ± SEM)ParametersBeforeAfter StimulationP valueSOD (U/mL)141.0 ± 36.0178.6 ± 102.60.043GPx mU/mL464.5 ± 140604.1 ± 1100.022IL-6 (pg/ml)3.4 ± 2.315.5 ± 3.80.029E228.2 ± 10.1907.2 ± 430 Open table in a new tab The results of our study indicated that ovarian stimulation has an impact on the production of SOD, GPx and IL-6. The increased level of Interleukin-6 activity among pregnant patients is suggestive of its role in enhancing implantation.