ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress affects women fertility and influences on the sperm quality by alterating activities of cholinesterases, a molecular marker of stress-related infertility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities and phenotypes in patients with unexplained infertility (idiopathic). It's possible association with inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and other oxidative stress markers, i.e. before and after intra uterine insemination (IUI). METHODS: In this study, blood samples of 60 patients with unexplained infertility were collected the day before and 24 hr after IUI (between 8 AM and 9 AM after the overnight fasting) and activities of BuChE, AChE, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GpX) and serum levels of thiol proteins (TP), C-reactive protein (CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05. RESULTS: Before IUI, there was a significant (p=0.048) positive correlation between BuChE activity and plasma TAC and a significant difference in the CAT activity between various BuChE (UU and non-UU) phenotypes. However, after IUI, a significant negative correlation between the AChE activity and BuChE activity was found (p=0.045) and the level of RBC AChE activity was significantly reduced (382.4± 163.19 vs. 586.7±384 IU/grHb, p=0.025). Meanwhile, after IUI, the activities of SOD (1568±847.5 IU/grHb vs. 1126±229.3, p=0.031) and CAT (310±53.4 IU/grHb vs. 338±73, p=0.025) were increased. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that decline in cholinesterases activities may be responsible for stimulation of oxidative stress and inflammation and reduction in fertility rates by IUI.