Antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10‐pretreated mouse pre‐antral follicles derived from vitrified ovaries

Aim This study evaluated the antioxidant status of pre‐antral follicles derived from vitrified ovaries pretreated with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Methods Mouse pre‐antral follicles derived from fresh and vitrified warmed ovarian tissue were cultured with or without CoQ10 (50 μmol/L). Follicular growth, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) activity during cultivation were assessed. Results The growth rate of the fresh pre‐antral follicles was higher compared with the vitrified groups, especially in the CoQ10‐treated than non‐treated groups. MDA increased while TAC decreased at 96 h of the cultivation period. TAC was higher while MDA was lower in the fresh pre‐antral follicles than in the vitrified groups. These rates were higher in the CoQ10‐treated than non‐treated groups. The vitrified and fresh CoQ10‐pretreated groups had significantly higher SOD, GPX, and CAT activity compared with the CoQ10 non‐treated groups. Conclusion CoQ10‐supplemented maturation medium can increase antioxidant enzyme activity and decrease lipid peroxidation in cultured pre‐antral follicles derived from fresh and vitrified mouse ovaries.