title: Follicular fluid and serum concentrations of myo-inositol in patients undergoing IVF: relationship with oocyte quality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The follicular microenvironment is an important determinant of oocyte development. The aim of this study was to examine whether the myo-inositol (MI) content in human follicular fluid (FF) was associated with better oocyte quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 53 patients treated with IVF was recruited to a prospective observational study. FF and serum samples collected were divided into two groups: group A consisted of FF associated with matured and fertilized oocytes, whilst group B was from follicles with immature and unfertilized oocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient's age, total ampoules of HMG used, days of stimulation, basal levels of FSH, estradiol (E(2)) levels on the day of HCG, and serum MI content were not significantly different between the two groups. FF volume and its MI content were significantly higher in group A compared with group B (P < 0.05). The levels of MI in FF were positively correlated with the amount of E(2) in their corresponding FF samples and also correlated with embryo quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that higher concentrations of MI and E(2) in human FF appear to play a role in follicular maturity and provide a marker of good quality oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. tonychiu@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Tony T Y
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Eric L K
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Briton-Jones
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007294:Inositol; D004958:Estradiol