Abstract
BackgroundIt has been well documented that the maturing oocyte is very vulnerable to changes in its micro-environment, the follicular fluid (FF). Recent research has focused on different components within this FF, like hormones, growth factors and metabolites, and how their concentrations are altered by diet and the metabolic health of the mother. It has been proposed that fatty acids (FAs) are potential factors that influence oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. However, a thorough study of the specific FF FA composition per lipid fraction and how this may be affected by BMI is currently lacking. Therefore, we investigated the BMI-related concentration of FAs in the phospholipid (PL), cholesteryl-ester (CHE), triglyceride (TG) and non-esterified (NE) lipid fraction in the FF of women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART).MethodsIn this descriptive cross-sectional study, the FF of normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25.0 kg/m(2), n = 10), overweight (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 kg/m(2), n = 10) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2), n = 10) women, undergoing ART, was sampled and analyzed for 23 specific FAs in the PL, CHE, TG and NEFA fraction, using a gas chromatographic analysis method. Differences between BMI-groups were studied by means of univariate general linear models and post hoc Sheffé tests.ResultsTotal FA concentrations in the PL and CHE fraction did not differ between BMI groups. Total TG concentrations tended to differ and total NEFA concentrations differed significantly between BMI groups. Interestingly, 42% and 34% of the total FAs was esterified in the PL and CHE fraction, respectively, while only 10% were present in both the TG and NEFA fraction. Only few individual FA concentrations differed in the PL, CHE and TG fraction between BMI groups, whereas abundant BMI-related differences were found in the NEFA fraction.ConclusionsOur data show that differences in BMI are associated with alterations in the FA composition of the FF, an effect most pronounced in the NEFA fraction. These BMI-related variations could possibly affect granulosa cell viability, oocyte developmental competence and subsequent embryo quality possibly explaining differences in oocyte quality in obese patients described by others.
Highlights
It has been well documented that the maturing oocyte is very vulnerable to changes in its micro-environment, the follicular fluid (FF)
It has been shown that TG and Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations are increased in the FF of obese women subjected to ovum pick-up [18], while such elevated NEFA and/or TG concentrations were negatively associated with human cumulus-oocyte-complex morphology [19] and affected both murine oocyte maturation [18] and bovine embryo quality [20,21]
Our results showed that approximately 42% of the total Fatty acid (FA) concentration was esterified in the PL fraction and 34% in the CHE fraction, whereas only 10% were present in both the TG and NEFA fraction
Summary
It has been well documented that the maturing oocyte is very vulnerable to changes in its micro-environment, the follicular fluid (FF). Dietary induced FA changes or obesogenic diets during oocyte maturation or early embryo development affect oocyte and embryo quality [11,12] and these effects may even have consequences for the offspring’s health [13,14] Results of these studies are not always in agreement and difficult to compare as the quantity of the FA offered, and the physiological status, the type of FA (ratios of omega-3, -6 or −9 FAs, number of double bonds, carbon chain length) and the duration of treatment may determine the final FA concentrations in the FF [3]. This study further discusses potential implications of BMI-related FF FA changes on oocyte and embryo quality
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