Table 1 The role of oxidative stress in the female reproductive process
From: A novel and compact review on the role of oxidative stress in female reproduction
| Function | Reproductive process | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Positive effect | Zn-Cu SOD↑ → Promotion of the development of follicles | [26] |
| Biosynthesis of ovarian steroids → P450↑ → ROS↑ → Blood flow↑ → Rupture of follicles → Ovulation | [36, 37, 40, 41] | |
|
ROS↑ → Promotion apoptosis of non-dominant follicles FSH↑ → E2↑ → CAT and GSH↑ → Protection of cells from apoptosis | [38] | |
| E2 and P ↓ → SOD↓ → OS↑ → Endometrial shedding and implant failure | [62] | |
| ROS↑ → NF-κB↑ → PGF2α↑ → Luteum dissolution | [35, 39, 61] | |
|
Sperm-ovum binding → ROS↑ → Corpus luteus functional↑ ROS↑ → Antioxidants↑ → Synthesis of progesterone | [39] | |
| Negative effect |
PCOS: Serum proline activity↑, OS↑ Physiological hyperglycemia → ROS↑ (Monocytes) → TNF-α↑ → NF-κB↑ → Resistance of Insulin↑ | [45, 46] |
|
Preeclampsia: Defective placenta → Hypoxia and reperfusion injury → OS↑ → Cytokines↑, Prostaglandins↑ → TAS↓, GPx of placenta↓ VC↓ → Risk of preeclampsia↑ (MDA↑) ROS↑ → Vasoconstriction↑ → Coagulation activity↓ OS↑ → Vascular endothelial injury↑ → ROS↑ → TNF-α↑, ox-LDL↑ → Endothelial subtypes of activated NAD(P)H oxidase → SO anion↑ Auto-antibodies of AT1-AA↑ → NAD(P)H oxidase↑ → ROS↑ → SO anion↑ | [67, 76,77,78,79,80,81, 83,84,85] | |
|
Endometriosis: In the peritoneal fluid, MDA↑, IL-6↑,TNF-α↑, IL-8↑, VEGF↑, MCP-1↑, ox-LDL↑. In endometriotic lesions: OS↑ → NF-κB↑ → Inflammation↑ In endometriotic cells: MAPK↑ ROS↑ → IUGR, abortion, fetal malformation | [71,72,73, 75] |
