Effect of Exposure to Follicular Fluid in Endometrioma Patients on the Presence of Polar Body I, Distribution Pattern and Intensity of Mitochondria Oocyte Fluorescence

Mitochondria are small organelles that are directly involved in many essential cellular functions. Mitochondria are very sensitive to the surrounding environmental conditions and are easily affected by various free radicals or ROS. Endometriosis is a disease associated with increased ROS. The effect of endometriosis on oocyte mitochondrial abnormalities or dysfunction has received limited attention. This study aims to determine the effect of exposure to follicular fluid in endometrioma patients on the presence of polar body I, distribution pattern, and intensity of mitochondrial fluorescence in mice oocytes.

The study design was a randomized post-test only control group design using oocytes of immature Swiss mice exposed to follicular fluid from endometrioma patients. Follicular fluid was taken at the time of picking oocytes from infertility patients who participated in the FIV-ISIS program. Immature oocytes were matured in vitro (IVM) in culture media with follicular fluid added from endometrioma and non-endometriotic patients as a control. The presence of polar body I (oocyte maturation), fluorescence intensity (amount/metabolic activity) and mitochondrial distribution pattern were compared in the two groups. Data analysis with SPSS 16.0 program. Variable analysis was done by chi square test and independent t test.

Polar body I was significantly lower (30% vs 75%) in the treatment group compared to the control group (p=0,01). The pattern of diffuse distribution (30% vs 70%) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group (p=0,027). The mean fluorescence intensity (556,54 268.96 vs 818,07228.17) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group (p<0,001).

The effect of exposure to follicular fluid in endometrioma patients significantly reduced the presence of polar body I, caused a change in distribution pattern and decreased the intensity of mitochondrial fluorescence in mice oocytes.

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