Investigation of the relationship between fertilization success and histological and biochemical changes in oocyte microenvironment of patients in the ivf center

Aim: To investigate the effect of the chemical changes in the follicular fluid and histological changes in the cumulus cells of the oocyte microenvironment on oocyte number and pregnancy in infertile patients. Material and Method: A total of 50 female patients who were admitted to Atatürk University Research Hospital Infertility Clinic and planned for infertility treatment between the ages of 18-35 were included in the study patients were divided into 3 groups and according to the number of oocytes; Patients with oocytes less than 5 as Group 1, patients with oocytes 5-20 as Group 2, patients with more than 20 oocytes as Group 3. During oocyte collection process, the follicular fluid was aspirated from the follicles and the cumulus cells were collected. The obtained follicular fluid was stored at -80 ° C for use in biochemical (MDA, TOS, TAS, SOD, GSH) analyzes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine caspase 3 and mTOR immunoreactivity at light microscopic level. Results: MDA, TOS levels in follicular fluid were higher in Group 1 patients when compared with the other two groups and a decrease in SOD was observed. (p <0,05). In Group 2 patients, MDA, TOS level were found to be higher than Group 3, while SOD level was decreased (p <0,05). TAS, GSH levels did not change depending on oocyte number (p <0.05). Although the MDA level detected in the follicular fluid of pregnant patients was higher than that of non-pregnant women, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Immunohistochemical stainings showed that mTOR and caspase 3 immunoreactivity were more intense in Group 1 than in the other groups. Conclusion: As a result, it was thought that the increase in mTOR expression could activate the Caspase 3 pathway and this activation could lead to oxidative stress. As a result of the findings we have found that mTOR pathway may have effects on oocyte number and pregnancy formation.