Granulosa cells produce most ovarian function indicators in infertile women like estradiol, AMH, and inhibin B. Female peptide hormone insulin-like factor 3 is produced by theca cell. Signaling of insulin-like factor 3 from theca cell stimulates antral follicle development and theca androgen production. To investigate how INSL3 levels may be a theca cell marker of ovarian reserve and the association with current markers of ovarian reserve, including AFC, FSH, E2, and AMH, in infertile women undertaking assisted reproduction. In this cross-sectional study, 75 Iraqi infertile couples were chosen at Al-Nahrain University's High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies from October 2022 to April 2023 for the ICSI cycle. Based on the levels of INSL3 in the serum on the day 2 of the menstrual cycle and on the day of retrieving oocyte in the follicular fluid. A comparison was made with current ovarian reserve markers (AFC, FSH, E2, and AMH) .From 75 infertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), 21 of them achieved pregnancy. Positive Significant relations were found between serum INSL3 levels and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH and antral follicle count. there were no significant relationships between follicular fluids INSL3 with serum LH, FSH and E2 . The study provides compelling evidence for the significant role of INSL3 in female fertility and its association with the success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Positive correlations between serum INSL3 levels and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and Antral follicle count AFC indicate its potential involvement in ovarian reserve and hormonal regulation.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are active chemical compounds created by the body's metabolic process and are crucial in human reproduction. Excessive ROS can contribute to oxidative stress, which has been linked to poor fertility. Embryo culture medium plays an essential role in IVF/ICSI cycles. Eighty participants underwent ovarian stimulation and ICSI cycles; ROS levels were measured in blood samples on the ovum pickup (OPU) day and in each embryo culture dish on ET day using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These values were associated with the quality of generated embryos. Women were divided into two groups; the first had day three embryo transfers, whereas the second received blastocyst transfers on day 5. Grades I embryo count was shown to be inversely related to the serum and culture medium ROS levels. Pregnant women had significantly greater levels of GI embryos (p=0.011) and lower levels of GIII embryos (p=0.024). Pregnancy rates for the third-and fifth days of the embryo transfers were 24% and 50%, respectively, with (p=0.045). Pregnancy success rates were increased after ET day five and were strongly influenced by transfer day. Blastocyst-stage embryos with high serum ROS levels were found to be underdeveloped. Culture medium ROS levels can be used as an adjuvant criterion for embryo selection and metabolic marker for developing embryos.