Features of the course of pregnancy and prenatal outcomes in patients with reduced ovarian response in assisted reproductive technology programs

Aim. To assess the possibility of using androstenedione levels in blood serum and follicular fluid to predict ovarian response in assisted reproductive technology programs and to conduct a comparative analysis of the results obtained by 2 methods chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Materials and methods. A prospective study included 55 couples who received in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer program therapy. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the ovarian response to stimulation: 1st (13 oocytes, n=4), 2nd (49 oocytes, n=27), 3rd (over 10 oocytes, n=24). Androstenedione levels were measured in blood serum obtained on the day of transvaginal ovarian puncture and in follicular fluid samples with CLIA and HPLC-MS/ MS methods at the laboratories of Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology. Results. On the day of transvaginal ovarian puncture, the serum androstenedione levels, which were measured by HPLC-MS/MS, were increasing with an increase of the number of oocytes obtained. The CLIA method revealed a difference in the androstenedione levels between the groups with the number of oocytes obtained of less than 3 and more than 10. Moreover, the androstenedione levels measured by CLIA were significantly different between the patient groups (p0.05). Comparison of serum androstenedione levels measured by CLIA and HPLC-MS/MS, showed high correlations between the values [=0.73 (p0.001)], which makes it possible to use both methods equally, given the existing equipment of the clinical base. Conclusion. Prediction of ovarian response to stimulation is an important step in assisted reproductive technology programs. Measuring androstenedione concentration in blood serum on the day of transvaginal ovarian puncture with highly specific methods (CLIA and HPLC-MS/MS) can be used to predict the degree of ovarian response along with the traditional assessment of the ovarian reserve based on determining anti-Mullerian hormone levels in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

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Comparing early embryo morphokinetics between patients with lower and normal ovarian response by using time-lapse microscopy in assisted reproductive technology

10.26226/morressier.5af300ae738ab10027aa9358 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Evaggelia Alexopoulou ◽

Anja Pinborg

Keyword(s):

Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽

Ovarian Response ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Reproductive Technology ◽

Early Embryo ◽

Time Lapse Microscopy

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Significance of disorders of proteomic profile of follicular fluid for predicting the effectiveness of in vitro fertilisation in women with infertility

Kazan medical journal ◽

10.17816/kmj2018-496 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 496-503

Author(s):

O S Zolotykh ◽

S V Lomteva ◽

K Yu Sagamonova

Keyword(s):

Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽

Follicular Fluid ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Reproductive Technology ◽

In Vitro Fertilisation ◽

Proteomic Profile ◽

Technology Programs ◽

Group 2

Aim. To study the proteomic profile of follicular fluid in patients with infertility in assisted reproductive technology programs. Methods. The study included women with infertility included in assisted reproductive technology programs: 15 women who had in vitro fertilisation which resulted in pregnancy (group 1) and 16 women with a negative result of this program (group 2). Fractionation of the follicular fluid samples was performed using the sets of special magnetic beads. Proteomic profiling was performed by tandem MALDI-mass-spectrometry. The anti-Müllerian hormone level was measured by ELISA. Results. The study revealed differences in the detectability of follicular fluid proteins with different regulatory properties in patients of groups 1 and 2. With the negative outcome of in vitro fertilisation, expression of a number of proteins involved in the processes of folliculogenesis, ovulation, selection of the dominant follicle, as well as proteins necessary for the development of the zygote and blastula was reduced in females' follicular fluid. Increased expression in women from group 2 was registered for proteins enhancing proteolytic reactions, cell apoptosis, including oocytes, which disrupt the positive action of activin and damage structural and functional state of mitochondria. A definite relationship was found between the level of anti-Müllerian hormone and rate of detection of a number of proteins, in particular protocadherin-2α, cystatin C, betaglycan, prostatic acid phosphatase, and dermicidin. Conclusion. The revealed changes in proteomic profile of the follicular fluid obviously play an important role in the molecular mechanisms that determine the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies; the identified differentially expressed proteins can serve as objective markers for predicting the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation.

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