STAT3 and hydrops fetalis: This study shows that both Caspase-3 activity and caspase-3 mRNA expression were significantly higher in fertile HF-treated peritoneal cells compared to infertile HF-treated peritoneal cells and control cells, while the expression level of STAT3 and Smac genes as anti-apoptotic molecules was reduced in the fertile HF treated peritoneal cells relative to the infertile HF-treated peritoneal cells and control.