Correlations of follicular fluid oxidative stress biomarkers and enzyme activities with embryo morphology parameters during in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To measure antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels within follicular fluid (FF) and evaluate correlations with early embryo quality.


METHODS
Individual FF samples were obtained prospectively on the day of oocyte collection and assessed for lipid peroxidation as specific positional isomers of hydroperoxy and hydroxy fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and antioxidant enzyme activities by automated kinetic enzyme assays. Spearman rank correlation coefficients, adjusted for age and day of transfer, were used to assess associations between antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation products and embryo quality using a 1 follicle-1 oocyte/embryo approach. Post hoc power analysis was conducted to help interpret null results.


METHODS
A university clinic.


METHODS
Thirty-nine women undergoing IVF.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Embryo cell number and embryo fragmentation score (EFS) at transfer.


RESULTS
No significant correlations between lipid peroxidation derivatives or antioxidant enzyme activities and embryo quality were obtained. Post hoc power analysis indicated possible undetected associations between EFS and 13-hydroxy octadecatrienoic acid and 13-hydroperoxy octadecadieneoic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary dataset suggests that most lipid peroxidation products and antioxidant enzyme activities within FF are not associated with the quality of embryos, using EFS and embryo cell number as end points. However, further consideration of associations between EFS and 13-hydroxy octadecatrienoic acid and 13-hydroperoxy octadecadieneoic acid is warranted.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. fujimotov@obgyn.ucsf.edu
Victor Y
VY
Fujimoto
Michael S
MS
Bloom
Heather G
HG
Huddleston
Wendy B
WB
Shelley
Andrew J
AJ
Ocque
Richard W
RW
Browne
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D048430:Cell Shape; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004798:Enzymes