Agarwal Ashok, Allamaneni Shyam S R
Centre for Advanced Research in Human, Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk A19.1, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2004 Sep;9(3):338-47. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)62151-7.
Infertility is a common problem experienced by many couples. Numerous treatments are available for female infertility. However, in some cases, the treatment is empirical in nature because the aetiology of infertility is not fully understood. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to have an important role in the normal functioning of reproductive system and in the pathogenesis of infertility in females. Reactive oxygen species may also play a role in other reproductive organ diseases of women such as endometriosis. Oxidative stress develops when there is an imbalance between the generation of ROS and the scavenging capacity of antioxidants in the reproductive tract. It affects both natural and assisted fertility. Because assisted reproductive techniques are used extensively in the treatment of infertility, it is critical to understand the in-vitro conditions that affect fertilization and embryo development. Treatments that reduce oxidative stress may help infertile women with diseases that are caused by this imbalance. Such strategies include identifying the source of excessive generation of ROS, treating the primary cause, and in-vitro and in-vivo supplementation of antioxidants. Research is in progress to identify the mechanisms that are involved in the aetiology of female reproductive diseases caused by ROS, and to create effective strategies that can counteract oxidative stress.
不孕症是许多夫妇面临的常见问题。针对女性不孕症有多种治疗方法。然而，在某些情况下，由于不孕症的病因尚未完全明确，治疗具有一定的经验性。近年来，活性氧（ROS）已被证明在生殖系统的正常功能以及女性不孕症的发病机制中发挥重要作用。活性氧在女性的其他生殖器官疾病如子宫内膜异位症中可能也起作用。当生殖道中ROS的产生与抗氧化剂的清除能力之间失衡时，就会产生氧化应激。它会影响自然受孕和辅助生殖。由于辅助生殖技术在不孕症治疗中被广泛应用，了解影响受精和胚胎发育的体外条件至关重要。减轻氧化应激的治疗方法可能有助于患有由这种失衡引起的疾病的不孕女性。此类策略包括确定ROS过度产生的来源、治疗主要病因以及在体外和体内补充抗氧化剂。目前正在进行研究，以确定由ROS引起的女性生殖疾病病因中涉及的机制，并制定能够对抗氧化应激的有效策略。
