title: High concentrations of lactoferrin in the follicular fluid correlate with embryo quality during in vitro fertilization cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level of lactoferrin (LF) in follicular fluid (FF), as well as the correlation between the LF concentration of FF, fertilization rate, and embryo quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro fertilization program at the Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follicular fluid was obtained from 35 IVF patients, aged 25-34 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 70 FF and serum samples were collected at the time of oocyte harvesting (44 of the oocytes were fertilized, and 26 were not). The LF concentration in FF was assayed via ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean LF concentration in FF of the fertilized group (500.2 +/- 35.5 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in the unfertilized group (379.7 +/- 45.1 ng/mL). A positive correlation between follicular size and LF concentration was not found (r = 0.214). However, a high LF concentration in FF was indicative of good embryo quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High LF concentrations in FF correlate with both a high fertilization rate and good embryo quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. atsushi-y@med.showa-u.ac.jp <atsushi-y@med.showa-u.ac.jp>
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanaihara
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsukawa
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Katsufumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin