P-275 Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels in blood plasma could represent the ORP status in follicular fluid from oocyte donors and patients
Authors: Maldonado Rosas I , Carrasquel G , Ramirez L , Jimenez I , Moreno S , Villa Muñoz L , Gupta S , Agarwal A 
Published: June 2023

Study question

Does the evaluation of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) levels in blood plasma from subfertile patients and oocyte donors represents the ORP status in follicular fluid?

Summary answer

ORP levels in blood plasma from oocyte donors and sub fertile patients could be an indicator of oxidative stress in follicular fluid

What is known already

Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) measurement of seminal plasma is one method to diagnose oxidative stress in male patients, which can help physician to recommend antioxidants administration when it is elevated. Seminal plasma is easily accessible by masturbation. An empirical analogue for semen could be follicular fluid (FF). Unfortunately, it is very difficult to access to FF, unless a surgical procedure is performed. Hence, it is necessary to find indirect parameters to evaluate the ORP status in FF. Since blood plasma (BP) circulation provides antioxidants to the FF, we studied the BP ORP measurement to indirectly determine ORP levels in FF.

Study design, size, duration

Prospective study conducted at CITMER, Mexico from December 2022 to January 2023. We included under informed consent 15 oocyte donors (age 26.8 ± 4.06 years old) and 55 patients (age 35.2 ± 4.8 years old) undergoing IVF/ICSI.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

ORP levels in BP and FF from dominant follicles were measured at the same time of oocyte collection with MiOXSYS system. Oocytes were inseminated and zygotes were cultured until blastocysts stage. We calculated correlation of a) ORP levels in FF vs BP, b) ORP of FF and BP vs number of retrieved oocytes, c) ORP of FF and BP vs number of fertilized oocytes, d) ORP of FF and BP vs number of blastocysts

Main results and the role of chance

A total of 172 oocytes from oocyte donors were collected. After fertilization check, 135 zygotes (78%) were observed. A total number of 55 blastocysts (31%) were observed at day 5 + day 6.

For patients, a total of 550 oocytes were collected, 360 zygotes were observed (65%) and 164 blastocysts at day 5 + day 6 were obtained (45%).

The correlation between ORP levels from FF and BP for oocyte donors was 0.90 and 0.51 for patients. The overall ORP levels in FF and BP in patients were 136.2 ± 14.9 mV and 148.3 ± 15.97 mV, respectively. For oocyte donors, ORP levels in FF and BP were 160.3 ± 13.8 mV and 170.28 ± 17.67mV, respectively. There was a mild correlation of ORP levels in BP with numbers of oocytes retrieved (r = 0.25). The correlation of BP ORP with oocyte fertilization was 0.24 in patients with autologous oocyte utilization.

The mean ORP levels of FF were 136.2 ± 14.9 mV, versus a mean ORP of 148.3 ± 15.97 mV in BP. The FF ORP levels between 100-150 mV [LRD1] were moderately correlated and predictive of blastocyst development [LRD2].

For donor oocytes there was a weak negative correlation [LRD3] of FF ORP with oocyte fertilization (-0.06) and a weak negative correlation for blastocyst formation was found (-0.18).

Limitations, reasons for caution

The MiOXSYS System ( Careous Biotechnology, Lituania) is a device calibrated to measure ORP levels in seminal plasma but not to measure ORP levels in FF nor BP. The number of analyzed data should be increased.

Wider implications of the findings

According to this study, the use of blood plasma to surrogate the measurements of ORP levels in follicular fluid could represent a further strategy to include female patients to be treated by antioxidants before an IVF treatment.

Trial registration number

None