Tsunoda Satoshi, Kimura Naoko, Fujii Junichi
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science Yamagata University 2-2-2 Iidanishi 990-9585 Yamagata Japan.
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences Yamagata University Yamagata Japan.
Reprod Med Biol. 2013 Sep 27;13(2):71-79. doi: 10.1007/s12522-013-0170-0. eCollection 2014 Apr.
Oxidative stress caused by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the predominant causes of both male and female infertility. Oxidative stress conditions cause either cell death or senescence by oxidation of cellular molecules including nucleic acid, proteins, and lipids. It is particularly important to minimize oxidative stress when in vitro fertilization is performed for the purpose of assisted reproduction. The problems associated with assisted reproductive technology are becoming evident, and it is now the time to clarify its mechanisms and cope with them. On the other hand, the beneficial roles of ROS, such as intracellular signaling, have become evident. The antithetical functions of ROS make it more difficult to overcome the problems caused by oxidative stress. Despite the difficulty in understanding mammalian reproduction, the mechanisms and problems can be gradually unveiled by advanced technology such as genetic modification of animals.
活性氧（ROS）水平升高所导致的氧化应激是男性和女性不育的主要原因之一。氧化应激状况会通过氧化包括核酸、蛋白质和脂质在内的细胞分子，导致细胞死亡或衰老。在进行体外受精以实现辅助生殖时，尽量减少氧化应激尤为重要。与辅助生殖技术相关的问题日益明显，现在是时候阐明其机制并加以应对了。另一方面，ROS的有益作用，如细胞内信号传导，也已变得明显。ROS的双重功能使得克服氧化应激所导致的问题变得更加困难。尽管理解哺乳动物生殖存在困难，但通过诸如动物基因改造等先进技术，其机制和问题可以逐步被揭示。
