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Objective: To investigate whether the Ala16Val polymorphism in the SOD2 gene, encoding for mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD), is associated with [1] infertility and [2] the pregnancy rate (PR) in IVF cycles. Design: Prospective case-control study. Setting: Public university and public university hospital. Patient(s): A total of 362 newborns (nonselected population) and 148 infertile women undergoing an IVF cycle, from which 44 became pregnant and 104 did not. Intervention(s): Blood samples extracted from the patients and newborn umbilical cord. Main Outcome Measure(s): Genotype and allele distribution of the Ala16Val polymorphism in the SOD2 gene using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Result(s): The polymorphism distribution of the subfertile women was similar to that of a nonselected population. The SOD2 Ala allele frequency was 49% both in controls and IVF patients. In IVF population the Ala/Ala SOD2 genotype was 25%, with a 28% Val/Val homozygous. In contrast, the Ala/Ala genotype was associated with higher PRs in IVF (47% in Ala/Ala vs. 23% in no Ala/Ala). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the Ala/Ala genotype was an independent predictor of pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.29), followed by the number of transferred embryos (OR = 2.37) and age (OR = 0.84). Conclusion(s): The Ala/Ala SOD2 genotype is a significant independent predictor of the occurrence of pregnancy in IVF. Data also support a role for antioxidant defense, particularly in the mitochondria, in conception in IVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the serum oxidizability and antioxidant status in women undergoing an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and to assess the possible relationship of the oxidizability indexes with the pregnancy rate.Design: Prospective, longitudinal study.Setting: Public university and public university hospital.Patient(s): Systematically recruited cohort of 125 women undergoing either IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Intervention(s): Serum samples were collected before the beginning of the use of gonadotropins (basal) and the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (final) during an IVF cycle.Main Outcome Measure(s): The Cu2+-induced serum oxidation in terms of the oxidation rate in the lag (Vlag) and propagation (Vmax) phases and the time at which the oxidation rate is maximal (tmax), and measurements of serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), tocopherol, hydrophilic antioxidants, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide.Result(s): Albumin, urate, bilirubin, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol, TAA, and tmax statistically significantly decreased after the IVF cycle. Conception cycles were associated with a serum more prone to oxidation compared with nonconception cycles. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the difference (final-basal) of the oxidation index Vlag (OR 1.394) and the body mass index (OR 0.785) were independent predictors of pregnancy.Conclusion(s): Treatment with IVF induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is reflected in a serum less protected against oxidation. The results also suggest a role for ROS in the occurrence of conception in IVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]