Abstract
Assessment of oocyte quality to avoid overproduction of embryos is now considered an important goal in ICSI cycles. Although in classic Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) cycles selection is mainly done for embryos and not for follicles. Follicular fluid and its contents representing the oocyte environment are now gaining more attention because not only of its crucial influence on oocyte developments but also due to easy isolation of follicular fluid with every case of ICSI. By its aspiration during ovum pick up (OPU). substances isolated from follicular fluid to assess oocyte quality were in the form of: hormones like, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Anti-mullerian Hormon (AMH), Growth Hormone (GH) etc., growth factors like Insulin Like Growth Factor (ILGF), proteins and amino acids like Lactoferrin (LF) which is an iron-binding glycoprotein that was detected in follicular fluid and was thought to be related to good oocyte quality when present in high concentration. Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect the possible effect of follicular fluid lactoferrin on oocyte quality and hence pregnancy rate in ICSI cycles. Methods: Follicular fluid was obtained from 64 patients undergoing Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. Follicular fluid (FF) was collected at the time of oocyte harvesting. The lactoferrin concentration in FF was assayed by ELISA. Results: The mean LF concentration in follicular fluid of the positive biochemical pregnancy group (0.63 ± 0.17 ng/mL) was not significantly higher than that in the negative biochemical pregnancy (0.61 ± 0.16 ng/mL). A positive correlation between a number of mature oocytes and lactoferrin concentration was not found (r.101). Conclusion: Lactoferrin level in follicular fluid does not correlate with oocytes quality or pregnancy rate.
Highlights
Oocyte quality estimation is a major goal in human in-vitro fertilization to limit embryos overproduction
By its aspiration during ovum pick up (OPU). substances isolated from follicular fluid to assess oocyte quality were in the form of: hormones like, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Anti-mullerian Hormon (AMH), Growth Hormone (GH) etc., growth factors like Insulin Like Growth Factor (ILGF), proteins and amino acids like Lactoferrin (LF) which is an iron-binding glycoprotein that was detected in follicular fluid and was thought to be related to good oocyte quality when present in high concentration
The results show that there was no statistically significant difference between women with positive and negative biochemical pregnancy regarding mean concentration level of lactoferrin in follicular fluid (0.6 ± 0.1 ng/ml) versus (1.5 ± 6.0 ng/ml) respectively, p = 0.636 (Table 3)
Summary
Oocyte quality estimation is a major goal in human in-vitro fertilization to limit embryos overproduction. The process of oocytes equality determination started from oocyte morphology and progressed towards genetic and biochemical factors detection [1]. FF constituents are considered to determine oocyte quality and subsequently embryo quality [2]. Lactoferrin LF which is an iron-binding glycoprotein isolated from milk [3], [4]. Lactoferrin has a molecular weight of about 80 kDa, and has high affinity for iron. The molecular structure and amino acid sequence of human lactoferrin were first described in 1984. Lactoferrin was classified as a member of the transferrin family, due to its 60% sequence similarity with serum transferring [5]. Lactoferrin has 3 different isoforms: Lactoferrin-α, lactoferrin-β and lactoferrin-γ [6]
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