Abstract
BackgroundAlthough oocyte quality is the dominant factor determining embryo quality, few studies have been conducted to evaluate embryo quality based on the metabolites related to the oocyte. With quantification of the follicular fluid (FF) metabolites, in assisted reproductive technology (ART), this study sought to evaluate the embryo or oocyte quality through an informative approach.ResultsAn evaluation model consisting of 17 features was generated to distinguish the embryo quality on day 3 post-fertilization, and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) were the key contributors to the evaluation. The model was extended to the patients under different ages and hyperstimulations, and the features were further enriched to facilitate the evaluation of the embryo quality. The metabolites were clustered through pathway analysis, leading to a hypothesis that accumulation of arachidonic acid induced by PCs might weaken embryo quality on day 3 post-fertilization.ConclusionsA discriminating model with metabolic features elicited from follicular fluid was established, which enabled the evaluation of the embryo or oocyte quality even under certain clinical conditions, and the increase of PCs in follicular fluid implies the attenuation of embryo quality on day 3 post-fertilization.
Highlights
Oocyte quality is the dominant factor determining embryo quality, few studies have been conducted to evaluate embryo quality based on the metabolites related to the oocyte
How did we find a proper angle to utilize the metabolomic information for analyzing embryo quality on day 3 postfertilization? It is generally accepted that oocyte is a key factor to determine the quality of the embryo, and the metabolites in follicular fluid (FF) could partially reflect the oocyte living state [9, 10, 12,13,14]
Which association between the FF’s metabolomics and embryo quality on day 3 postfertilization should be reasonably evaluated? We proposed that as an embryo on day 3 over grade 7C-II under a microscope is generally accepted in good quality, the corresponding oocyte should be reasoned as a good one as well
Summary
Oocyte quality is the dominant factor determining embryo quality, few studies have been conducted to evaluate embryo quality based on the metabolites related to the oocyte. With quantification of the follicular fluid (FF) metabolites, in assisted reproductive technology (ART), this study sought to evaluate the embryo or oocyte quality through an informative approach. Preimplantation developmental arrest of embryos is a common phenomenon during the ART process, in which approximately half of in vitro produced embryos arrest during the first week of human embryogenesis [3, 4]. Oocyte quality is the major determinant of preimplantation embryo developmental competence [5, 6]. The oocyte delivers half of the chromosomal complement to the embryo and supplies many maternal factors to support the first three cell divisions during embryo development [7]. An exploration of the sensitive operational indicators at the molecular level is urgently needed to facilitate the assessment of oocyte quality
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