TY - JOUR
T1 - Female Infertility and Free Radicals
T2 - Potential Role in Adhesions and Endometriosis
AU - Alpay, Zeynep
AU - Saed, Ghassan M.
AU - Diamond, Michael P.
PY - 2006/9
Y1 - 2006/9
N2 - Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced in the cell either as part of, or as end-products of, biochemical reactions that have crucial roles in the homeostasis of the organism. Thus, excess production or impaired elimination of free radicals leads to increased oxidative stress, which has been implicated in the development of several different disease states, including hypoxia-reperfusion injury, cancer, and aging. Peritoneal adhesions and endometriosis are relatively commonly identified in women, and are known to be associated with infertility without clearly understood pathophysiology. The prevention and treatment strategies of these conditions, both of which have tremendous propensity to recur, have not been completely established. The development of both disorders has been shown to be closely related to the presence of increased oxidative stress in the tissues. In this article, we review this relationship with reference to the mechanistic steps involved and their regulation. As our knowledge of both conditions expands, we believe there will be opportunities for specific steps to intervention in free radical metabolism to reduce and/or prevent further development of endometriosis and adhesions.
AB - Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced in the cell either as part of, or as end-products of, biochemical reactions that have crucial roles in the homeostasis of the organism. Thus, excess production or impaired elimination of free radicals leads to increased oxidative stress, which has been implicated in the development of several different disease states, including hypoxia-reperfusion injury, cancer, and aging. Peritoneal adhesions and endometriosis are relatively commonly identified in women, and are known to be associated with infertility without clearly understood pathophysiology. The prevention and treatment strategies of these conditions, both of which have tremendous propensity to recur, have not been completely established. The development of both disorders has been shown to be closely related to the presence of increased oxidative stress in the tissues. In this article, we review this relationship with reference to the mechanistic steps involved and their regulation. As our knowledge of both conditions expands, we believe there will be opportunities for specific steps to intervention in free radical metabolism to reduce and/or prevent further development of endometriosis and adhesions.
KW - Adhesions
KW - endometriosis
KW - fibroblast
KW - free radicals
KW - nitric oxide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749127435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749127435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsgi.2006.05.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jsgi.2006.05.002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 16872846
AN - SCOPUS:33749127435
SN - 1071-5576
VL - 13
SP - 390
EP - 398
JO - Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation
JF - Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation
IS - 6
ER -