Lipid Peroxidation Status in Embryo Culture Media: The Impact on Fertilization and Embryo Quality during IVF Cycles

Background: The process of preimplantation embryo development in vitro represents a key phase during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. It involves several regulatory signaling pathways as well as an optimized in vitro culture system. The resulting embryo quality helps to determine embryo competence before implantation and pregnancy outcomes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to play a major role in influencing the process of embryo development. Their role can be reflected in the regulation of signaling pathways as second messengers or in the irreversible cell alterations due to oxidative stress following an excess of ROS levels. 
Methods: In this study, we investigated the association between morphological embryo quality (fertilization, cleavage quality, and fragmentation levels) and lipid peroxidation levels (Malondialdehyde) in embryo culture media. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a total of 103 oocytes were evaluated on day 1 and day 3 of their development, and their corresponding culture media were analyzed by estimating MDA levels using thiobarbituric acid. 
Results: The results showed no significant association between MDA levels in culture media and fertilization rate (p=0.3), sperm quality (p=0.99; p= 0.17; p=0.46; p=0.30; p=0.65; p=0.44; p=0.09; p=0.15; p=0.56), embryo fragmentation levels (p=0.79; p=0.40), AMH levels (p=0.31; p=0.36) and female age (p=0.60; p=0.34). However, we revealed a significant association between cleavage quality and MDA levels in the embryo environment (p=0.03). 
Conclusion: We conclude that oxidative stress in IVF culture media might be mainly associated with delayed embryonic development.