Peritoneal Fluid From Infertile Women With Minimal/Mild Endometriosis Compromises the Meiotic Spindle of Metaphase II Bovine Oocytes: A Pilot Study

Some studies have demonstrated alterations in the composition of peritoneal fluid (PF) from women with endometriosis. Controversial studies have suggested that impaired oocyte quality may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis-related infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spindle and chromosome distribution of in vitro–matured oocytes in the presence of 2 concentrations of PF from infertile women with minimal/mild endometriosis (EI/II) compared to fertile controls. We performed an experimental study using a bovine model. Samples of PF were obtained from 12 women who underwent videolaparoscopy—6 infertile women with EI/II and 6 fertile women without endometriosis (control group). Immature bovine oocytes underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) in the absence of PF and in the presence of 2 concentrations (1% and 10%) of PF from fertile women and from infertile women with EI/II. After 22 to 24 hours of IVM, oocytes were fixed for subsequent immunofluorescence staining for the visualizat...