L.N. Shcherbakova1, K.A. Bugerenko2, E.V. Proskurnina3, O.A. Maslova4, A.O. Makarenko5, O.B. Panina6

1,6 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)

2,4,5 Center for Family Planning and Reproduction, Moscow Healthcare Department (Moscow, Russia)

3 Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Research Centre of Medical Genetics (Moscow, Russia)

To date the pathogenesis of endometriosis remains unclear. The exact mechanisms of its persistence and progression are yet to be found, and the relationship between endometriosis and infertility is still not understood fully.  In patients with endometriosis-associated infertility, general imbalance of pro- and antioxidants may be present and there is no conclusive data regarding comparative extent of local and systemic oxidative metabolism disturbance in patients with endometriosis.

The aim of this study was to assess local and systemic antioxidant potential in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility with lucigenin-activated chemiluminescence detector. A decrease antioxidant activity in plasma was found in 47.2%, an increase — in 30.5%. In the peritoneal fluid, a decrease in antioxidant activity was found in 33.3% of patients, an increase — in 41.7%.

There was no significant differences of plasma chemiluminescence profile in patients with different stages of external genital endometriosis. In the peritoneal fluid, however, antioxidant activity was significantly higher in patients with stage III-IV endometriosis vs. stage I-II. This indicates a more pronounced increase in the antioxidant activity of the peritoneal fluid in patients with advanced endometriosis.

Oxidative balance disorder can disrupt ROS-mediated physiological pathways, thus impeding folliculogenesis and fertilization, implantation, and embriogenesis. Moreover, due to increased antioxidant activity endometriotic cells do not undergo apoptosis, despite high ROS concentrations, which leads to progression of endometriotis lesions, which produce even higher concentrations of ROS and inflammatory molecules.

The results of this study obtained could allow a clearer understanding of the role of the local oxidative imbalance both towards pro- and towards antioxidant activity.

Shcherbakova L.N., Bugerenko K.A., Proskurnina E.V., Maslova O.A., Makarenko A.O., Panina O.B. Systemic and local indicators of antioxidant action in external genital endometriosis. Technologies of Living Systems. 2022. V. 19. № 3. Р. 45-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j20700997-202203-05 (In Russian)

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