Received July 02, 2019
Accepted January 02, 2020

Objective To evaluate the influence of the follicular environment of patients with oxidative stress over oocyte quality Methods ART patients with either advanced-maternal-age or endometriosis were asked for consent to donate follicular fluids obtained during ovum pick-up. Follicular fluids were supplemented at 20%, 10% and 5% (%V/V) to the medium for In Vitro Maturation (IVM) of mouse oocytes. Following maturation culture, oocytes were assessed for meiotic reinitiation. In a second set-up, coenzyme Q10 was added to the culture medium of oocytes exposed to follicular fluids. Apart from assessing meiotic maturation, a subset of oocytes was processed for evidencing spindle structure and chromosomal alignment. Results Supplementation of maturation media with follicular fluid of patients (FF) of advanced-maternal-age (with or without oral antioxidant therapy) did not have an effect on the maturation capacity of mouse oocytes. However, FF of endometriosis patients (without oral antioxidant therapy), at the two highest concentration, did affect the maturation of such oocytes (61.5% & 57.0% maturation), when compared to the lowest concentration (89.2% maturation) (p<0.05). Supplementation of media with Coenzyme Q10 did not improve the maturation rate of oocytes exposed to endometriosis FF (28.5±13.7%) (p<0.05; mean±SEM). Nevertheless, preliminary analysis of spindle abnormality and chromosomal alignment revealed that oocytes resuming meiosis in presence of FF of patients with endometriosis, display aberration in spindle morphology and chromosomal misalignment. Conclusion Follicular environment of endometriosis patients severely affects the process of oocyte (nuclear) maturation. In vitro maturation in presence of coenzyme Q10 appears to be a tool for rescuing oocytes exposed to such follicular environment.