Lipid Peroxidation at Various Estradiol Concentrations in Human Circulation during Ovarian Stimulation with Exogenous Gonadotropins

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between serum malondialdehyde levels and serum estradiol concentrations in healthy human female subjects. Nine hundred and fifty-five blood samples, from infertile women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation treatment with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone, were collected for estradiol and malondialdehyde measurements. Five groups were formed according to serum estradiol levels: Group I (< 50 pg/ml), group II (50 - 299 pg/ml), group III (300 - 999 pg/ml), group IV (1000 - 1999 pg/ml) and group V (≥ 2000 pg/ml). One-way analysis of variance was used for comparisons. Mean malondialdehyde concentrations were 1.74 ± 0.24 mmol/ml (group I), 1.53 ± 0.20 mmol/ml (group II), 1.69 ± 0.24 mmol/ml (group III), 1.77 ± 0.21 mmol/ml (group IV) and 1.86 ± 0.20 mmol/ml (group V), respectively. Mean serum malondialdehyde level at physiological estradiol concentrations (50 - 199 pg/ml, group II) was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than the mean malondialdehyde levels in other groups. Mean malondialdehyde concentrations among the remaining groups did not significantly differ. Our findings suggest that in vivo lipid peroxidation might be increased when circulating estradiol concentrations are below (< 50 pg/ml) or above (> 300 pg/ml) the physiological limits. High blood estradiol levels in human female subjects during ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotropins could be associated with increased serum malondialdehyde concentrations.

Estrogen - Estradiol - Gonadotropin - Lipid peroxidation - Malondialdehyde

References

• 1 Mooradian A D. Antioxidant properties of steroids.  J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1993;  45 509-511
• 2 Okatani Y, Morioka N, Wakatsuki A, Nakano Y, Sagara Y. Role of the free radical-scavenger system in aromatase activity of the human ovary.  Horm Res. 1993;  39 22-27
• 3 Ayres S, Tang M, Subbiah M T. Estradiol-17beta as an antioxidant: some distinct features when compared with common fat-soluble antioxidants.  J Lab Clin Med. 1996;  128 367-375
• 4 McManus J, McEneny J, Young I S, Thompson W. The effect of various oestrogens and progestogens on the susceptibility of low density lipoproteins to oxidation in vitro.  Maturitas. 1996;  25 125-131
• 5 Schröder J, Dören M, Schneider B, Oettel M. Are the antioxidative effects of 17 beta-estradiol modified by concomitant administration of a progestin?.  Maturitas. 1996;  25 133-139
• 6 Massafra C, Buonocore G, Gioia D, Sargentini I, Farina G. Effects of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone-acetate treatment on erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde plasma levels in amenorrhoic women.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;  82 173-175
• 7 Speroff L, Glass R H, Kase N G. Induction of ovulation. In: Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG (eds) Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. Baltimore; Williams & Wilkins 1994: 908-914
• 8 Richard M J, Portal B, Meo J, Coudray C, Hadjian A, Favier A. Malondialdehyde kit evaluated for determining plasma and lipoprotein fractions that react with thiobarbituric acid.  Clin Chem. 1992;  38 704-709
• 9 Wasowicz W, Neve J, Peretz A. Optimized steps in fluorometric determination of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in serum: importance of extraction pH and influence of sample preservation and storage.  Clin Chem. 1993;  39 2522-2566
• 10 Rifici V A, Khachadurian A K. The inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation by 17-beta estradiol.  Metabolism. 1992;  41 1110-1114
• 11 Sack M N, Rader D J, Cannon R O. Oestrogen and inhibition of low-density lipoproteins in postmenopausal women.  Lancet. 1994;  343 269-270
• 12 Guetta V, Panza J A, Waclawiw M A, Cannon R O. Effect of combined 17-beta estradiol and vitamin E on low-density lipoprotein oxidation in postmenopausal women.  Am J Cardiol. 1995;  75 1274-1276
• 13 Dunn J F, Nisula B J, Rodbard D. Transport of steroid hormones: binding of 21 endogenous steroids to both testosterone-binding globulin and corticosteroid-binding globulin in human plasma.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981;  53 58-68
• 14 Subbiah M T, Kessel B, Agrawal M, Rajan R, Abplanalp W, Rymaszewski Z. Antioxidant potential of specific estrogens on lipid peroxidation.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993;  77 1095-1097
• 15 Tang M, Abplanalp W, Subbiah M T. Association of estrogens with human plasma lipoproteins: studies using estradiol-17beta and its hydrophobic derivative.  J Lab Clin Med. 1997;  129 447-452