title: Follicular fluid Aβ40 concentrations may be associated with ongoing pregnancy following in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether Aβ40 levels in the follicular fluid (FF) of infertile women undergoing IVF demonstrate a relationship with IVF cycle parameters and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  FF Aβ40 levels were compared between patients achieving ongoing pregnancy and those with unsuccessful cycles. Clinical data such as ongoing pregnancy rate, implantation rate, number of oocytes retrieved, number of 8 cells embryos with ≤5 % fragmants, ratio of 8 cells embryos with ≤5 % fragmants to total embryos per patient and cleavage rate were compared among three percentile groups of Aβ40. CCK-8 method was used to measure the effect of Aβ40 on rat granulosa cells proliferation in vitro. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of steroidogenesis related genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients achieving ongoing pregnancy (n = 26; 50.98%) demonstrated significantly higher FF Aβ40 levels compared to those with unsuccessful cycles (n = 25; 49.02%; P = 0.024). No significant differences were observed in APP (amyloid precursor protein) and its other proteolysis products including sAPPα, sAPPβand Aβ 42 between the two groups. Statistically significant differences between the three percentile groups of Aβ 40 were observed only in the implantation rates and ongoing pregnancy rates. There were no statistically significant differences between the three percentile groups in the age, No. oocytes retrieved, No. 2 pronucleus, No. embryos transferred, No. 8 cells embryos with ≤5% fragmants and cleavage rate. Significantly negative correlation exists between APP and AFC (antral follicle count) (R =-0.360, P = 0.005) and oocytes retrieved (R =-0.378, P = 0.004). There were also significantly positive correlations between Aβ40 and Aβ42 (R = 0.407, P = 0.000), between AFC and oocytes retrieved (R = 0.476, P = 0.000). Rat granulosa cells treated with Aβ40 of different concentrations have improved their proliferative ability. Cells treated with 200 pg/ml Aβ40 have the strongest ability of proliferation. 200 pg/ml Aβ40 enhanced the expression of key molecules during steroidogenesis such as IGF-1,IGF-1receptor (IGF-1R),FSH receptor (FSHR),P450 aromatase (P450arom),steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochromes P450(P450scc).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aβ40 levels in follicle fluid may be associated with ongoing pregnancy and the moderate expression level of Aβ40 is important for oocytes and embryos development.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fu-Hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Shi-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D011374:Progesterone