LAUSR

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress are problematic in infertile couples because of impaired sperm function and embryo development. ROS can decrease the success rate of IVF treatment. Lycopene is a carotenoid with a potent antioxidant activity. This study evaluated the antioxidative effects of lycopene on sperm and oocyte in an IVF system. Sperm motility was examined after 4-h incubation with 5, 10, and 25 μM lycopene. Early and late sperm apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry and malondialdehyde levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. To study the effect of lycopene on oocytes and IVF outcomes, oocytes were incubated with lycopene and then inseminated. The cleavage rate and embryo grading were assessed. The results show that lycopene had no protective effect on sperm motility. Late sperm apoptosis decreased slightly but it was not statistically significant. Outcomes of cleavage rate and good-grade embryos of oocytes incubated with lycopene had no significant differences. The higher the concentration of lycopene, the higher the oocyte degeneration rate. In conclusion, lycopene is a strong antioxidant but it may have scant antioxidative effects in an IVF system. Furthermore, oocytes incubated with high concentrations of lycopene for 1 h may impair the oocyte quality and cause it to degenerate. Thus supplementation of lycopene in the IVF culture media should be further studied to determine the most effective dose and incubation time.