ABSTRACT
Arachidonic acid is metabolized primarily by two enzymes, cyclo-oxygenase and lipo-oxygenase. In the platelets the major cyclo-oxygenase products formed are prostaglandins [PG] G2 PGH2 and thromboxane A2, whereas the primary lipoxygenase products are lipid peroxides. We previously reported that plasma contains endogenous inhibitors of platelet aggregation [EIPA] and lipo-oxygenase [EILO]. While PGs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of infertility, EIPA or EILO have never been measured in the plasma of infertile patients. Therefore, in this study we measured the activity of EIPA and EILO in the plasma of 23 infertile patients and 17 volunteers who had fathered a child. The EIPA activity was found to be significantly lower in the infertile group as compared to the fertiles [P< 0.05]. Conversely, the EILO activity was significantly higher in the infertile group [P< 0.025]. In addition, we estimated endogenous lipid peroxidation products [LPP] such as lipofuschin and lipid peroxides. The levels of lipofuschin were high [P< 0.05] in the plasma of infertile patients