CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2021; 43(02): 119-125
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718443
Original Article
Basic and translational Science/Endometriosis

Follicular Fluid from Infertile Women with Mild Endometriosis Impairs In Vitro Bovine Embryo Development: Potential Role of Oxidative Stress

Fluido folicular de mulheres inférteis com endometriose leve prejudica o desenvolvimento in vitro de embriões bovinos: Potencial papel do estresse oxidativo
1   Human Reproduction Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
1   Human Reproduction Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
2   Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
1   Human Reproduction Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
2   Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, DF, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether follicular fluid (FF) from infertile women with mild endometriosis (ME) alters in vitro bovine embryo development, and whether the antioxidants N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and/or L-carnitine (LC) could prevent such damages.

Methods Follicular fluid was obtained from infertile women (11 with ME and 11 control). Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro divided in: No-FF, with 1% of FF from control women (CFF) or ME women (MEFF); with 1.5 mM NAC (CFF + NAC, MEFF + NAC), with 0.6 mg/mL LC (CFF + LC, MEFF + LC), or both antioxidants (CFF + NAC + LC, MEFF + NAC + LC). After in vitro fertilization, in vitro embryo culture was performed for 9 days.

Results A total of 883 presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro. No differences were observed in cleavage rate (p = 0.5376) and blastocyst formation rate (p = 0.4249). However, the MEFF group (12.5%) had lower hatching rate than the No-FF (42.1%, p = 0.029) and CFF (42.9%, p = 0.036) groups. Addition of antioxidants in the group with CFF did not alter hatching rate (p ≥ 0.56), and in groups with MEFF, just NAC increased the hatching rate [(MEFF: 12.5% versus MEFF + NAC: 44.4% (p = 0.02); vs MEFF + LC: 18.8% (p = 0.79); versus MEFF + NAC + LC: 30.8% (p = 0.22)].

Conclusion Therefore, FF from infertile women with ME added to medium of in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes impairs hatching rate, and NAC prevented these damages, suggesting involvement of oxidative stress in worst of oocyte and embryo quality of women with ME.

Resumo

Objetivo Investigar se o fluido folicular (FF) de mulheres inférteis com endometriose leve (ME, na sigla em inglês) altera o desenvolvimento in vitro de embriões bovinos, e se os antioxidantes N-acetil-cisteína (NAC) e/ou L-carnitina (LC) poderiam prevenir possíveis danos.

Métodos O FF foi obtido de mulheres inférteis (11 com ME e 11 controles). Oócitos bovinos foram maturados in vitro divididos em: sem FF (No-FF), com 1% de FF de mulheres controle (CFF) ou mulheres com ME (MEFF); com 1,5 mM de NAC (CFF + NAC, MEFF + NAC), com 0,6 mg/mL de LC (CFF + LC, MEFF + LC), ou ambos antioxidantes (CFF + NAC + LC, MEFF + NAC + LC). Depois da fertilização in vitro, o cultivo in vitro de embriões foi realizado por 9 dias.

Resultados Um total de 883 zigotos presumidos foram cultivados in vitro. Nenhuma diferença foi observada na taxa de clivagem (p = 0,5376) e na taxa de formação de blastocistos (p = 0,4249). Entretanto, o grupo MEFF (12.5%) teve menor taxa de eclosão de blastocistos do que os grupos No-FF (42,1%, p = 0,029) e CFF (42,9%, p = 0,036). Adição de antioxidantes no grupo com CFF não alterou a taxa de eclosão (p ≥ 0.56), e nos grupos com MEFF, somente a NAC aumentou a taxa de eclosão [(MEFF: 12.5% versus MEFF + NAC: 44.4% (p = 0.02); versus MEFF + LC: 18.8% (p = 0.79); versus MEFF + NAC + LC: 30.8% (p = 0.22)].

Conclusão Portanto, o FF de mulheres inférteis com ME adicionado ao meio de maturação in vitro de oócitos bovinos prejudica a taxa de closão embrionária, e a NAC preveniu esses danos, sugerindo o envolvimento do estresse oxidativo na piora da qualidade oocitária e embrionária de mulheres com ME.

Contributions

Giorgi V.S.I.: Data collection, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing. Ferriani R.A.: Manuscript writing/editing. Navarro P.A.: Project development, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing.




Publication History

Received: 18 March 2020

Accepted: 12 August 2020

Article published online:
28 January 2021

© 2021. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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