scholarly journals Melatonin levels in follicular fluid as markers for IVF outcomes and predicting ovarian reserve

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 153 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Tong ◽  
Shile Sheng ◽  
Yun Sun ◽  
Huihui Li ◽  
Wei-Ping Li ◽  
...  

Good-quality oocytes are critical for the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF), but, to date, there is no marker of ovarian reserve available that can accurately predict oocyte quality. Melatonin exerts its antioxidant actions as a strong radical scavenger that might affect oocyte quality directly as it is the most potent antioxidant in follicular fluid. To investigate the precise role of endogenous melatonin in IVF outcomes, we recruited 61 women undergoing treatment cycles of IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures and classified them into three groups according to their response to ovarian stimulation. Follicular fluid was collected to assess melatonin levels using a direct RIA method. We found good correlations between melatonin levels in follicular fluid with age, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH), all of which have been used to predict ovarian reserve. Furthermore, as melatonin levels correlated to IVF outcomes, higher numbers of oocytes were collected from patients with higher melatonin levels and consequently the number of oocytes fertilized, zygotes cleaved, top quality embryos on D3, blastocysts obtained and embryos suitable for transplantation was higher. The blastocyst rate increased in concert with the melatonin levels across the gradient between the poor response group and the high response group. These results demonstrated that the melatonin levels in follicular fluid is associated with both the quantity and quality of oocytes and can predict IVF outcomes as well making them highly relevant biochemical markers of ovarian reserve.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Liang ◽  
Xiaokui Yang ◽  
Yonglian Lan ◽  
Lingling Lei ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endometriosis patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment suffer from lower success rates. The success of IVF-ET is related to the receptivity of the uterus and the quality of embryos, and it is well known a patient’s endometriosis does not impair the receptivity. Whether endometrioma should be removed surgically before IVF remains controversial. Studies have shown that endometrioma removal decreases peritoneal inflammation, but little information is available regarding the alteration in the cytokines of follicular fluid. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of endometrioma cystectomy on the outcome of IVF and the levels of intrafollicular inflammatory cytokines and to investigate correlations between cytokine concentrations and IVF outcomes. Method A total of 41 women with endometriosis-associated infertility undergoing IVF were recruited; 13 patients (surgery group, S group) had surgery to remove the endometrioma before enrollment, and 28 patients (non-surgery group, NS group) were untreated before IVF. The follicular fluid from a dominant follicle was collected during oocyte retrieval, and the concentrations of sixteen soluble cytokines known to be involved in ovarian function were measured. Results Among the soluble molecules examined in this study, chemokines and growth factors and a few are inflammatory cytokines were found in the follicular fluid of patients with endometriosis. In addition, the expression levels of chemokines, growth factors, and most inflammatory cytokines did not differ between the S and NS groups, but interleukin (IL)-18 levels were significantly lower in the NS group. However, the levels of IL-18 in the FF did not correlate with IVF cycle parameters. The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were similar between the two groups, but the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level was lower in the S group than in the NS group. Conclusions These findings suggest that endometrioma surgery may potentially reduce the ovarian reserve and has little impact on the success rate of IVF. Ovarian endometriomas are not associated with cytokine profiles in FF from infertile women, and they are not likely to affect the quality of the oocyte and embryo as a result of an inflammatory mechanism.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Pacella-Ince ◽  
Deirdre L. Zander-Fox ◽  
Michelle Lane

Women with reduced ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age have an altered metabolic follicular microenvironment. As sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) senses cellular metabolic state and post-translationally alters protein function, its activity may directly impact on oocyte viability and pregnancy outcome. Therefore, we investigated the role of SIRT5 in relation to ovarian reserve and maternal age. Women (n = 47) undergoing routine IVF treatment were recruited and allocated to one of three cohorts based on ovarian reserve and maternal age. Surplus follicular fluid, granulosa and cumulus cells were collected. SIRT5 mRNA, protein and protein activity was confirmed in granulosa and cumulus cells via qPCR, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and desuccinylation activity. The presence of carbamoyl phosphate synthase I (CPS1), a target of SIRT5, was investigated by immunohistochemistry and follicular-fluid ammonium concentrations determined via microfluorometry. Women with reduced ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age had decreased SIRT5 mRNA, protein and desuccinylation activity in granulosa and cumulus cells resulting in an accumulation of follicular-fluid ammonium, presumably via alterations in activity of a SIRT5 target, CPS1, which was present in granulosa and cumulus cells. This suggests a role for SIRT5 in influencing oocyte quality and IVF outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yonghui Jiang ◽  
Huangcong Shi ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Shigang Zhao ◽  
Han Zhao

Oxidative stress has been recognized as one of the causal mediators of female infertility by affecting the oocyte quality and early embryo development. Improving oxidative stress is essential for reproductive health. Melatonin, a self-secreted antioxidant, has a wide range of effects by improving mitochondrial function and reducing the damage of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This minireview illustrates the applications of melatonin in reproduction from four aspects: physiological ovarian aging, vitrification freezing, in vitro maturation (IVM), and oxidative stress homeostasis imbalance associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), emphasising the role of melatonin in improving the quality of oocytes in assisted reproduction and other adverse conditions.


GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Natalia V. Aleksandrova

The article systematizes information on the diagnostic capabilities of modern clinical and laboratory markers of ovarian reserve. The diagnostic capabilities of anti-Mllerian hormone (AMH) as a marker of ovarian reserve are discussed, which make it possible to adjust the dose of hormonal drugs and predict the response of the ovary to stimulation in programs of assisted reproductive technologies. This paper discusses for the first time the role of AMH in assessing the quality of oocytes and subsequent embryos. Despite insufficient literature data, further study of AMH, as well as full-scale research in this direction, seems to be extremely promising.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ryzhov ◽  
A Shpakov ◽  
N Tkachenko ◽  
M Mahmadalieva ◽  
I Kogan ◽  
...  

Abstract Study question Can the adipokines levels and ratios in the follicular fluid (FF) be used to predict in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes? Summary answer The leptin level and ratios leptin/ghrelin and leptin/adiponectin in FF are reliable prognostic factors for IVF outcomes in women with normal body mass index (BMI). What is known already The adipose tissue serves not a simple fat storage, rather an important endocrine organ, producing adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin and others. Adipokines have been shown to regulate the cardiovascular system, food intake, metabolism, inflammation, metastatic spread of tumors,and also reproduction, affecting the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. The plasma and FF adipokines have been used as prognostic factors for IVF outcomes, but the obtained results are controversial. The most promising in this case may be the distribution of patients into groups in accordance with their BMI and a separate study of adipokine ratios in them. Study design, size, duration Women (n = 53), who undergo IVF, were divided on two groups, according to their BMI: normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2, n = 25) and increased BMI (>25.0 kg/m2, n = 28). Depending on IVF outcomes after the antagonist protocol, the groups formed were subsequently subdivided into two groups each: non-pregnant with normal BMI (nPN, n = 16), pregnant with normal BMI (PN, n = 9), non-pregnant with increased BMI (nPI, n = 21), pregnant with increased BMI (PI, n = 7). Participants/materials, setting, methods: Inclusion criteria for participants were: age 18–45 years and infertility due to male/tubal factor. Exclusion criteria were: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes mellitus, or plasma level of anti-Müllerian hormone <1.0 ng/mL. The FF from the first punctated follicle was collected and tested for leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin levels using ELISA kits. If gestational sac was seen in uterine cavity using ultrasound on day 21–25 after embryo transfer, pregnancy was diagnosed. Main results and the role of chance Women with increased BMI had, as a rule, higher FF levels of leptin and the leptin/ghrelin and leptin/adiponectin ratios, compared with women with normal BMI. Furthermore, leptin level was higher in PN as compared to nPN (21.61±2.55 vs 10.54±1.16, p < 0.05), but did not differ in the PI and nPI groups. The same pattern was obtained for the leptin/ghrelin and leptin/adiponectin ratios. The ghrelin level showed an inverse pattern. It was higher in nPN as compared to PN (3.80±0.78 vs 1.39±0.19, p < 0.05), but did not differ in women with increased BMI. The obtained data demonstrate that the association between the adipokine levels in FF and the IVF outcomes is better in women with normal BMI than in women with increased BMI. Adipokines, which differed among the study groups, were evaluated as prognostic factors in women with normal BMI.The values were calculated at which pregnancy became unlikely: leptin level <15 ng/mL, leptin/ghrelin ratio <9, and leptin/adiponectin ratio <5. For each indicators, the sensitivity and specificity were >88%. The predictive power of these indicators in the clinic using the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was: leptin level 7.11 (1.23–40.99, p < 0.05), leptin/ghrelin 29.53 (1.53–570.83, p < 0.05), and leptin/adiponectin 7.11 (1.23–40.99, p < 0.05). Limitations, reasons for caution The main limitation of the study is a relative small number of patients, although the differences between the investigated groups were significant. Furthermore, women with low ovarian reserve, age > 40 years, endometriosis or PCOS were not included in the study. Wider implications of the findings: The obtained results indicate the good prospects for using such indicators as the adipokines levels and their ratio in FF to predict IVF outcomes in women with low ovarian reserve, endometriosis and PCOS, but with normal BMI. Trial registration number Not applicable


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel P. Yakovlev

The Aim of the study was to assess modern considerations about the role of aromatase P450 enzyme in female reproductive system and the effect of its activity on the protocols of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Materials: foreign and Russian literature data from 1978 to 2016. Methods:review and synthesis of publications has been performed. Conclusions: Ovarian aromatase is the key steroidogenesis enzyme of the female reproductive system. Its activity depends on many factors, both of intraovarian and extragonadal origin. The ovarian follicular response and oocyte quality in IVF may depend on aromatase activity.


Author(s):  
C. Chetan Kumar ◽  
B. Rambabu Naik ◽  
A.V.N. Siva Kumar ◽  
A. Ravi ◽  
L.S.S. Varaprasad Reddy ◽  
...  

Background: Melatonin, a powerful free radical scavenger and broad-spectrum antioxidant may directly affect ovarian function by regulating folliculogenesis, maintenance of follicular integrity, oocyte quality and maturation capacity. Therefore, we aimed to study effects of melatonin and its interaction with growth factors in sheep preantral follicles. Methods: The influence of different concentrations of Melatonin (5-500 pM) on in vitro culture of preantral follicles (PFs’) isolated from sheep ovaries was studied. Experiments I and II were conducted to standardize the optimum concentration of Melatonin that supports better development of preantral follicles. Experiment III was conducted with the optimum level of Melatonin derived in the Experiments I and II to evaluate the effect of melatonin at 100pM in combination with various growth factors. Result: Overall follicular development was found to be the best in the PFs’ cultured in medium supplemented with 100pM of Melatonin. Melatonin supplementation showed positive effects on the preantral follicular development in combination with different growth factors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Giovanni Vitale ◽  
Paola Rossetti ◽  
Francesco Corrado ◽  
Agnese Maria Chiara Rapisarda ◽  
Sandro La Vignera ◽  
...  

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have experienced growing interest from infertile patients seeking to become pregnant. The quality of oocytes plays a pivotal role in determining ART outcomes. Although many authors have studied how supplementation therapy may affect this important parameter for both in vivo and in vitro models, data are not yet robust enough to support firm conclusions. Regarding this last point, in this review our objective has been to evaluate the state of the art regarding supplementation with melatonin and myo-inositol in order to improve oocyte quality during ART. On the one hand, the antioxidant effect of melatonin is well known as being useful during ovulation and oocyte incubation, two occasions with a high level of oxidative stress. On the other hand, myo-inositol is important in cellular structure and in cellular signaling pathways. Our analysis suggests that the use of these two molecules may significantly improve the quality of oocytes and the quality of embryos: melatonin seems to raise the fertilization rate, and myo-inositol improves the pregnancy rate, although all published studies do not fully agree with these conclusions. However, previous studies have demonstrated that cotreatment improves these results compared with melatonin alone or myo-inositol alone. We recommend that further studies be performed in order to confirm these positive outcomes in routine ART treatment.


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