Changes of sFas and sFasL, oxidative stress markers in serum and follicular fluid of patients undergoing IVF.

Purpose: The Fas-Fas Ligand interaction is one of the essential events for the induction of apoptosis whereas the exact role of their soluble forms in the reproductive system is still not fully understood. Also oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of infertility causing diseases in women and has been suggested as one of the important factors that negatively affect IVF outcome. In this study, our aim was to evaluate serum and follicular fluid levels of soluble Fas soluble Fas Ligand, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity in patients undergoing IVF and compared with controls.

Methods: This study included 109 patients. Patients were classified as unexplained infertility (N = 31), PCOS (N = 19), tubal factor (N = 9) and endometriosis (N = 10) and compared with male factor infertility (N = 40) that was the control group. sFas and sFasL levels were measured by immunoassay method. MDA, SOD and TAC levels were measured by colorimetric method.

Results: Patients with unexplained infertility, PCOS and tubal factor had significantly lower sFas levels compared with their controls (respectively, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). However, SOD activity in unexplained infertility, PCOS and endometriosisgroupswere significantly higher than control group (p < 0.01).Decreased follicular fluid TAC levels were found in all patient groups compared with controls (respectively, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01).Patients with tubal factor had significantly higher serum sFasL (p < 0.05), but lower follicular fluid sFasL levels (p < 0.05) compared with unexplained infertility. Tubal factor and endometriosis groups had lowerfollicular fluid TAC levels compared to unexplained infertility and PCOSgroups (p < 0.01).

Conclusion(s): In this study, serum and follicular fluid sFas levels were decreased and antioxidant activity was impaired in infertility, possibly implying increased apoptosis. Especially in unexplained infertility group changes in this parametres more remarkable.