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Antioxidants
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Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction
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Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 13090

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Valéria Cristina Sandrim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Sao Paulo 18618-689, Brazil
Interests: biochemical and genetic biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction; nitric oxide and pharmacological therapy in pre-eclampsia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Priscila Rezeck Nunes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Sao Paulo 18618-689, Brazil
Interests: immunological; biochemical; genetic biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation; pharmacological therapy in pre-eclampsia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between pro-oxidants (free radical species) and antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles as second messengers in many intracellular signalling cascades aimed at maintaining the cell homeostasis. At higher levels, they can cause damage to biological molecules, leading to loss of function and cell death. The role of oxidative stress in the reproductive system is an essential topic in the development of new antioxidant therapies, protecting cells from peroxidation reactions, limiting cellular damage and helping to maintain cellular membrane integrity. Moreover, considerable evidence implicates oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of many human diseases, such as cancer, infertility, and pregnancy-related disorders (miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, foetal growth restriction and preterm labour). ROS function via proinflammatory cytokines and this mechanism has been proposed as a common underlying factor for several pathologies affecting reproductive processes. This Special Issue will add to this field by publishing original research studies or reviews and may cover endogenous sources, methods of determining ROS, the physiological roles of ROS and its negative effects on human reproduction, antioxidant supplementation and other related topics. The main focus will be on oxidative stress and antioxidant therapy related to human reproduction, menopause, cancer, male and female infertility and pregnancy-related disorders, summarising the role of free radicals and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of human reproduction.

Prof. Dr. Valéria Cristina Sandrim
Dr. Priscila Rezeck Nunes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human reproduction
  • oxidative Stress
  • antioxidants
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • pregnancy
  • infertility
  • cancer
  • menopause

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1067 KiB  
Article
Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction Are Attenuated by Resveratrol in Preeclampsia
by Thaina Omia Bueno-Pereira, Mariana Bertozzi-Matheus, Gabriela Morelli Zampieri, Joelcio Francisco Abbade, Ricardo C. Cavalli, Priscila Rezeck Nunes and Valeria Cristina Sandrim
Antioxidants 2022, 11(11), 2111; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112111 - 26 Oct 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1868
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by great endothelial dysfunction, decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and higher levels of arginase activity. In the present study, we investigated the potential modulatory effects of trans-resveratrol (RSV) on arginase and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers in endothelial cells exposed to [...] Read more.
Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by great endothelial dysfunction, decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and higher levels of arginase activity. In the present study, we investigated the potential modulatory effects of trans-resveratrol (RSV) on arginase and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers in endothelial cells exposed to plasma from patients with PE and healthy pregnant (HP) women, and umbilical arteries from patients with PE. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with pooled plasma from 10 HP or 10 PE pregnant women and RSV; umbilical arteries from patients with PE were incubated with RSV; intracellular NO and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed using a probe that interacted with these radicals; total arginase activity was evaluated measuring the urea produced; total antioxidant capacity was measured using the ferric reduction ability power (FRAP) assay; and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers were assessed using qPCR in endothelial cells and umbilical arteries. RSV increased NO levels and decreased total arginase activity in endothelial cells incubated with plasma from patients with PE. In addition, RSV increased total antioxidant capacity and downregulated endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and Caspase-3, (CASP-3), in endothelial cells and umbilical arteries from PE patients. RSV treatment positively modulated the L-arginine–NO pathway, decreased arginase activity, and increased antioxidant capacity, in addition to downregulating endothelial dysfunction biomarkers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction)
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18 pages, 702 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation on Serum Oxidative Stress Markers in Infertile Women with Endometriosis Undergoing ICSI
by Michele Gomes Da Broi, Elisa Melo Ferreira, Aline Zyman Andrade, Alceu Afonso Jordão, Rui Alberto Ferriani and Paula Andrea Navarro
Antioxidants 2022, 11(6), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061161 - 14 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2206
Abstract
Endometriosis-related infertility is associated with oxidative stress (OS). The present study aims to compare serum OS markers of infertile women with endometriosis and controls during the follicular phase of the natural cycle (D1), after pituitary downregulation using a GnRH agonist (D2), after controlled [...] Read more.
Endometriosis-related infertility is associated with oxidative stress (OS). The present study aims to compare serum OS markers of infertile women with endometriosis and controls during the follicular phase of the natural cycle (D1), after pituitary downregulation using a GnRH agonist (D2), after controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration (D3), and on the day of oocyte retrieval (D4). One hundred and eight serum samples (58 controls and 35 early and 18 advanced endometriosis cases) were collected at these four timepoints. OS markers were compared among the groups and timepoints using a linear regression model with mixed effects and a post-test using orthogonal contrasts. The significance was set at 5%. We observed altered OS markers in the endometriosis patients during the D1, D2, D3, and D4 timepoints compared to the controls. The evidence of systemic OS in infertile patients with endometriosis during COS suggests the mobilization of potent antioxidants in an attempt to protect the oocyte from oxidative damage, especially on the day of oocyte retrieval. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction)
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24 pages, 1607 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Melatonin Ameliorates the Negative Effect of Osmotic Stress in Human and Bovine Ovarian Stromal Cells
by Ebrahim Asadi, Atefeh Najafi and James D Benson
Antioxidants 2022, 11(6), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061054 - 26 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2632
Abstract
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation transplantation (OTCT) is the most flexible option to preserve fertility in women and children with cancer. However, OTCT is associated with follicle loss and an accompanying short lifespan of the grafts. Cryopreservation-induced damage could be due to cryoprotective agent (CPA) [...] Read more.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation transplantation (OTCT) is the most flexible option to preserve fertility in women and children with cancer. However, OTCT is associated with follicle loss and an accompanying short lifespan of the grafts. Cryopreservation-induced damage could be due to cryoprotective agent (CPA) toxicity and osmotic shock. Therefore, one way to avoid this damage is to maintain the cell volume within osmotic tolerance limits (OTLs). Here, we aimed to determine, for the first time, the OTLs of ovarian stromal cells (OSCs) and their relationship with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial respiratory chain activity (MRCA) of OSCs. We evaluated the effect of an optimal dose of melatonin on OTLs, viability, MRCA, ROS and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of both human and bovine OSCs in plated and suspended cells. The OTLs of OSCs were between 200 and 375 mOsm/kg in bovine and between 150 and 500 mOsm/kg in human. Melatonin expands OTLs of OSCs. Furthermore, melatonin significantly reduced ROS and improved TAC, MRCA and viability. Due to the narrow osmotic window of OSCs, it is important to optimize the current protocols of OTCT to maintain enough alive stromal cells, which are necessary for follicle development and graft longevity. The addition of melatonin is a promising strategy for improved cryopreservation media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction)
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12 pages, 1039 KiB  
Article
Local and Systemic Oxidative Stress Biomarkers for Male Infertility: The ORION Study
by Anna T. Bergsma, Hui Ting Li, Jitske Eliveld, Marian L. C. Bulthuis, Annemieke Hoek, Harry van Goor, Arno R. Bourgonje and Astrid E. P. Cantineau
Antioxidants 2022, 11(6), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061045 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Infertility problems occur in around 10% of all couples worldwide, with male-factor infertility as the sole contributor in 20–30% of these cases. Oxidative stress (OS) is suggested to be associated with the pathophysiology of male infertility. In spermatozoa, OS can lead to damage [...] Read more.
Infertility problems occur in around 10% of all couples worldwide, with male-factor infertility as the sole contributor in 20–30% of these cases. Oxidative stress (OS) is suggested to be associated with the pathophysiology of male infertility. In spermatozoa, OS can lead to damage to the cell membrane, resulting in disruption of DNA integrity and a decrease in motility. Established biomarkers for OS include free thiols and malondialdehyde (MDA), both representing different components of the reactive species interactome (RSI). This exploratory study aimed to investigate seminal plasma-free thiol and MDA levels in relation to semen parameters as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to determine if these markers are adequate to define local OS status. Furthermore, this study investigated if there is a relation between systemic and local OS status by comparing seminal concentrations of free thiol (R-SH, sulfhydryl groups, representing the extracellular redox status) and MDA (lipid peroxidation product) levels to those measured in serum. Free thiol and MDA measurements in both serum and semen plasma were performed in 50 males (18–55 y) of couples seeking fertility treatment. A significant positive correlation was found between seminal plasma-free thiol levels and sperm concentration and progressive motility (r = 0.383, p = 0.008 and r = 0.333, p = 0.022, respectively). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between MDA levels in seminal plasma and sperm concentration (r = 0.314, p = 0.031). This study supports that seminal plasma-free thiols may be promising as local OS biomarkers. No associations were observed between local and systemic OS biomarker concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction)
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18 pages, 5901 KiB  
Article
Therapeutic Effects of Bee Bread on Obesity-Induced Testicular-Derived Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in High-Fat Diet Obese Rat Model
by Joseph Bagi Suleiman, Mahaneem Mohamed, Ainul Bahiyah Abu Bakar, Zaida Zakaria, Zaidatul Akmal Othman and Victor Udo Nna
Antioxidants 2022, 11(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11020255 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3083
Abstract
Obesity is a debilitating disorder with a variety of problems including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic role of bee bread on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in the testis of obese rats. Thirty-two [...] Read more.
Obesity is a debilitating disorder with a variety of problems including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic role of bee bread on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in the testis of obese rats. Thirty-two adult male Sprague Dawley rats, with weights between 230–300 g, were distributed into four groups (n = 8/group), namely normal control (C), obese (Ob), obese + BB or obese + OR [high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks then HFD plus bee bread or orlistat for another 6 weeks] groups. Bee bread (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) was diluted with distilled water and administered daily for 6 weeks by oral gavage. There were significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes [glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR)], glutathione (GSH)] and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), superoxide dismutase (Sod), catalase (Cat) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) in the obese group relative to the control group. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers, namely: inducible nitric oxide synthase (Inos), nuclear factor kappa B (Nf-κβ), tumour necrotic factor α (Tnf-α) and interleukin 1β (Il-1β) were significantly increased while interleukin (Il-10) was decreased in the obese group relative to the control group. Further, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoexpressions decreased while cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining increased significantly in the obese group, in addition to increases in the mRNA levels of p53, Bax, Caspases-8, 9 and 3, relative to the control group. Treatment with bee bread showed increases in antioxidant enzymes and PCNA immunoexpression, as well as decreases in inflammation and apoptosis markers in the testes. This study has shown that bee bread has therapeutic effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis in the testis of HFD-induced obese male rats, thereby suggesting its role as a natural supplement capable of treating obesity-induced male reproductive impairment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction)
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