Abstract
Purpose: To 1) evaluate the embryotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide on mouse embryo development and 2) examine if pentoxifylline can reverse hydrogen peroxide induced embryotoxicity.
Methods: Prospective in vitro study examining the effects of varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and pentoxifylline on the blastocyst development rate alone as well as in combination.
Results: A dose-dependent decrease in % BDR was seen with increasing concentrations of H2O2. High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (> 60 μM) were embryotoxic. Pentoxifylline (500 μM) was able to reduce the embryotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide. Percent blastocyst development rate increased from 44% in hydrogen peroxide alone to 85% in hydrogen peroxide and pentoxifylline coincubation.
Conclusions: Pentoxifylline may be beneficial in reducing hydrogen peroxide induced embryo damage and improve IVF outcome. Patients with endometriosis-associated infertility may benefit from the use of pentoxifylline without significantly affecting embryo development.
Keywords: Embryotoxicity, hydrogen peroxide, pentoxifylline
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Footnotes
Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, October 16–20, 2004.
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