Abstract: Recurrent abortion, a common pregnancy complication, is one of the more intractable diseases in obstetrics and gynecology. It is a difficult disease affecting the physical and mental health and the life quality of patients. However, the cause of the disease is still unclear. Mitochondria are the organelles that provide energy for cell activities. A lot of evidence shows that mitochondria play an important role in oocyte development. More and more studies also show that mitochondrial abnormality is related to recurrent abortion. Therefore, the maintenance of mitochondrial function is crucial for early embryonic development. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) abnormalities, such as mtDNA copy number abnormalities and mtDNA mutations, may lead to abnormal embryonic development. Moreover, the ATP and ROS abnormalities caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, and the apoptosis that followed, also affect the embryonic development. In this article review, we discuss the relationship between mtDNA abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction and the occurrence and development of recurrent miscarriage, so as to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of recurrent abortion.

Key words: Abortion, habitual；, Mitochondria；, DNA, mitochondrial；, Apoptosis；, Oxidative phosphorylation；, Adenosine triphosphate；, Electron transport