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. 2011;23(5):673-80.
doi: 10.1071/RD10270.

Fluctuations in total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide levels of follicular fluid during bovine folliculogenesis

Sajal Gupta  1 , Audrey Choi, Hope Y Yu, Suzanne M Czerniak, Emily A Holick, Louis J Paolella, Ashok Agarwal, Catherine M H Combelles
Affiliations

Fluctuations in total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide levels of follicular fluid during bovine folliculogenesis

Sajal Gupta et al. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2011.

Abstract

Follicular fluid is an important environment for oocyte development, yet current knowledge regarding its in vivo oxidant and antioxidant levels remains limited. Examining follicular fluid oxidants and antioxidants will improve understanding of their changes in vivo and contribute to optimisation of in vitro maturation conditions. The aim of the present study was to consider selected markers, namely catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in follicular fluid samples (n = 503) originating from bovine antral follicles. The dynamic changes in two relevant antioxidant measures and one reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured through stages of bovine follicular development and the oestrous cycle. CAT activity and H(2)O(2) levels decreased significantly as follicle size increased, whereas TAC increased significantly as follicle size increased. Lower TAC and higher H(2)O(2) in small follicles suggest increased ROS in the initial stages of folliculogenesis. Because CAT levels are highest in the follicular fluid of small follicles in the setting of an overall low TAC, CAT may represent a dominant antioxidant defence in the initial stages of folliculogenesis. Future studies must focus on other reactive oxygen species and their various scavenger types during antral folliculogenesis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Catalase activity in follicular fluid collected from (A) different sized follicles and (B) different stages of estrous cycle. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Total antioxidant capacity of follicular fluid collected from (A) different sized follicles and (B) different stages of estrous cycle. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
H2O2 activity in follicular fluid collected from (A) different sized follicles. H2O2 activity in follicular fluid collected from different estrous stages, grouped by (B) small follicle size, (C) medium follicle size, and (D) large follicle size. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).
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