TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between free fatty acids, cumulus oocyte complex morphology and ovarian function during in vitro fertilization
AU - Jungheim, Emily S.
AU - MacOnes, George A.
AU - Odem, Randall R.
AU - Patterson, Bruce W.
AU - Lanzendorf, Susan E.
AU - Ratts, Valerie S.
AU - Moley, Kelle H.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants K12HD063086-01, UL1RR024992, P30DK056341 , and L50HD062021-01 . The contents of this work are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Objective: To determine if follicular free fatty acid (FFA) levels are associated with cumulus oocyte complex (COC) morphology. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: University in vitro fertilization (IVF) practice. Patient(s): A total of 102 women undergoing IVF. Intervention(s): Measurement of FFAs in serum and ovarian follicular fluid. Main Outcome Measure(s): Total and specific follicular and serum FFA levels, correlations between follicular and serum FFAs, and associations between follicular FFA levels and markers of oocyte quality, including COC morphology. Result(s): Predominant follicular fluid and serum FFAs were oleic, palmitic, linoleic, and stearic acids. Correlations between follicular and serum FFA concentrations were weak (r = 0.252, 0.288, 0.236, 0.309, respectively for specific FFAs; r = 0.212 for total FFAs). A receiver operating characteristic curve determined total follicular FFAs ≥0.232 μmol/mL distinguished women with a lower versus higher percentage of COCs with favorable morphology. Women with elevated follicular FFAs (n = 31) were more likely to have COCs with poor morphology than others (n = 71; OR 3.3, 95% CI1.2-9.2). This relationship held after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, body mass index, endometriosis, and amount of gonadotropin administered (β = 1.2; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.4). Conclusion(s): Elevated follicular FFA levels are associated with poor COC morphology. Further work is needed to determine what factors influence follicular FFA levels and if these factors impact fertility.
AB - Objective: To determine if follicular free fatty acid (FFA) levels are associated with cumulus oocyte complex (COC) morphology. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: University in vitro fertilization (IVF) practice. Patient(s): A total of 102 women undergoing IVF. Intervention(s): Measurement of FFAs in serum and ovarian follicular fluid. Main Outcome Measure(s): Total and specific follicular and serum FFA levels, correlations between follicular and serum FFAs, and associations between follicular FFA levels and markers of oocyte quality, including COC morphology. Result(s): Predominant follicular fluid and serum FFAs were oleic, palmitic, linoleic, and stearic acids. Correlations between follicular and serum FFA concentrations were weak (r = 0.252, 0.288, 0.236, 0.309, respectively for specific FFAs; r = 0.212 for total FFAs). A receiver operating characteristic curve determined total follicular FFAs ≥0.232 μmol/mL distinguished women with a lower versus higher percentage of COCs with favorable morphology. Women with elevated follicular FFAs (n = 31) were more likely to have COCs with poor morphology than others (n = 71; OR 3.3, 95% CI1.2-9.2). This relationship held after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, body mass index, endometriosis, and amount of gonadotropin administered (β = 1.2; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.4). Conclusion(s): Elevated follicular FFA levels are associated with poor COC morphology. Further work is needed to determine what factors influence follicular FFA levels and if these factors impact fertility.
KW - Oocyte
KW - cumulus oocyte complex
KW - free fatty acids
KW - ovarian follicle
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955038907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.01.154
DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.01.154
M3 - Article
C2 - 21353671
AN - SCOPUS:79955038907
SN - 0015-0282
VL - 95
SP - 1970
EP - 1974
JO - Fertility and Sterility
JF - Fertility and Sterility
IS - 6
ER -