Fig. 1

Schematic diagram showing the impact of stress on reproductive outcome. Environmental changes, pressure and demands and several other factors generate psychological stress. The psychological stress induces lifestyle changes and cortisol production from adrenal gland which directly and indirectly affect the ovarian physiology. The lifestyle changes including alcohol consumption and smoking leads to increase level of ROS. The increased level of ROS results an oxidative stress. The increased cortisol as well as oxidative stress levels affects granulosa cell functions possibly by inducing apoptosis. The granulosa cell apoptosis results in reduced estradiol 17ß biosynthesis in the ovary, which reduces growth and development of follicular oocytes and induces oocyte apoptosis. Apoptosis deteriorates oocyte quality leading to poor reproductive outcome in mammals including human