title: Follicular fluid concentrations of lipids and their metabolites are associated with intraovarian gonadotropin-stimulated androgen production in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although growing evidence points toward a role of lipotoxicity in the development of hyperandrogenesis, the main feature of polycystic ovary syndrome, few studies directly assessed this association in vivo in humans, and none targeted the ovarian milieu.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to correlate follicular fluid (FF) T levels with lipids, lipid metabolites, and inflammation markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recruitment was performed in two fertility clinics at one private and one academic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty women requiring in vitro fertilization were recruited during one of their scheduled visit at the fertility clinic. All women aged between 18 and 40 years with a body mass index between 18 and 40 kg/m(2) were invited to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were no interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the time of oocyte aspiration, FF was collected and analyzed for total T, lipids [nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) plus triglycerides], NEFA metabolites (acylcarnitines; markers of ineffective NEFAs β-oxidation), and inflammatory marker composition. The hypothesis being tested was formulated before the data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FF T levels were significantly correlated with FF levels of lipids (r = 0.381, P = .001; independently of IL-6), acylcarnitines (r ≥ 0.255, all P = .008; not independently of lipids), and IL-6 (r = 0.300, P = .009, independently of lipids). Additionally, FF lipid levels were significantly and strongly correlated with acylcarnitines (r ≥ 0.594; all P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that ovarian androgen production is related to intraovarian exposure to lipids, independently of inflammation and mainly through ineffective NEFA β-oxidation (as shown by higher acylcarnitine levels). Inflammation is also associated with intraovarian androgenesis, independently of lipids.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology (A.G., M.-C.B., J.-P.B.), Department of Medicine, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (B.C.-M.), Université de Sherbrooke, and Centre de Recherche Clinique Étienne-LeBel (B.C.-M., J.-P.B.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4; and PROCREA Cliniques (B.C.-M.), Mt Royal, Québec, Canada H3P 2W3.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervais
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carranza-Mamane
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baillargeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D008055:Lipids