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Abstract
One of the urgent medical problems of our time is a significant percentage of male and female infertility in various countries of the world. It is extremely aggravated under the influence of stressful factors, especially during natural disasters and wars. This review summarizes the latest research progress, concepts, and hypotheses regarding the role of free radical processes in the regulation of reproductive functions and in the pathogenesis of stressinduced reproductive disorders. One of the important metabolic processes in the body involved in stress reactions is lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative modification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid and proteins, which are carried out by reactive oxygen species (ROS). A state of long-term and severe stress generates a large number of ROS in mitochondria, microsomes, and other structures and cells, as a result of which a change in the proantioxidant balance occurs in the direction of a decrease in the redox potential in cells and their microenvironment. ROS cause LPO and modification of the structure of DNA, ribonucleic acid, and proteins in spermatozoa, eggs, and gonads, which leads to hypofertility or infertility. There are pathogenetically based proposals for the use of pharmacological and natural antioxidants for the treatment of male infertility or hypofertility. Conclusions. Oxidativenitrosative stress is a standard metabolic reaction to the state of acute and long-term stress in the body. Free radical processes are considered a significant factor in the pathogenesis of generative and endocrine disorders of the reproductive system of men and women. Maintaining balance in the redox system is an important condition for the
normal functioning of the reproductive system. It is necessary to strengthen efforts in the direction of counteracting oxidant and nitrosative stress in the reproductive organs in order to prevent and treat infertility caused by stress.
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