title: Acylcarnitine esters profiling of serum and follicular fluid in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  L-carnitine-mediated beta-oxidation of fatty acids has a well established role in energy supply of oocytes and embryos. Disturbed carnitine metabolism may impair the reproductive potential in IVF and can serve as a biomarker of pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study was performed between March 24, 2011 and May 9, 2011. We performed 44 unselected IVF cycles, (aged 23-40 years (mean: 32.3+/-5.1 years) and had BMI of 17.3-34.7 (mean: 23.80+/-4.9). Samples were also obtained from 18 healthy women of similar age admitted for minor elective surgery to serve as control for plasma carnitine profile. Serum and follicular fluid (FF) free carnitine (FC) and 20 major acylcarnitines (ACs) were measured by ESI/MS/MS method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum FC and AC levels in IVF patients were comparable to those in healthy control women. In FF FC and short-chain AC concentrations were similar to those in maternal serum, however, the levels of medium-chain, and long-chain AC esters were markedly reduced (p<0.05). The serum to FF ratio of individual carnitine compounds increased progressively with increasing carbon chain length of AC esters (p<0.05). There was a marked reduction in total carnitine, FC and AC levels of serum and FF in patients with oocyte number of >9 and/or with embryo number of >6 as compared to the respective values of <9 and/or <6 (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In IVF patients with better reproductive potential the carnitine/AC pathway appears to be upregulated that may result in excess carintine consumption and relative depletion of carnitine pool. Consequently, IVF patients may benefit from carnitine supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Édesanyák u, 17, H-7624, Pécs, Hungary. akos.varnagy@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Várnagy
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bene
authors.forename: Endre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sulyok
authors.forename: Gábor L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bódis
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melegh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine