Follicular Fluid Of Follicles Research Articles

Embryo Quality May Be Associated With Serum Inhibin B Levels but Not With Serum or Follicular Fluid Levels of Other Components of the Activin–Follistatin–Inhibin Axis

ObjectiveWe investigated the potential associations of embryo quality with serum and/or follicular fluid (FF) concentrations of the molecules of the activin–follistatin–inhibin (AFI) axis and antimüllerian hormone and aimed to identify molecules that could predict a positive assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we measured AFI hormone and antimüllerian hormone levels in the serum and FF of follicles (n = 101) obtained from healthy oocyte donors who underwent an assisted reproductive technology course (n = 32). After egg retrieval, embryos were characterized as good or bad quality according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology criteria. Women were divided into 3 groups (<50%; 50%-66.7%; and >66.7%) according to the percentage of good quality embryos obtained. ResultsThere was no difference between good and bad quality embryos in any of the molecules measured in FF. Moreover, there was no difference in the parameters measured in the serum among women according to the percentage of good quality embryos (ie, suitable for transfer or freezing) except for inhibin B, which tended to increase along with a good quality embryo rate (55.6 ± 7.9 vs 95.3 ± 14.3 vs 113.9 ± 36.9; P = .045). ConclusionsAmong the molecules of the AFI axis, only serum but not FF inhibin B levels were marginally associated with good quality embryo rates.

Chronically elevated androgen and/or consumption of a Western-style diet impairs oocyte quality and granulosa cell function in the nonhuman primate periovulatory follicle.

To investigate the impact of chronically elevated androgens in the presence and absence of an obesogenic diet on oocyte quality in the naturally selected primate periovulatory follicle. Rhesus macaques were treated using a 2-by-2 factorial design (n = 10/treatment) near the onset of menarche with implants containing either cholesterol (C) or testosterone (T, 4-5-fold increase above C) and a standard or "Western-style" diet alone (WSD) or in combination (T+WSD). Following ~ 3.5years of treatment, females underwent controlled ovulation (COv, n = 7-10/treatment) cycles, and contents of the naturally selected periovulatory follicle were aspirated. Follicular fluid (FF) was analyzed for cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and steroids. RNA was extracted from luteinizing granulosa cells (LGCs) and assessed by RNA-seq. Only healthy, metaphase (M) I/II-stage oocytes (100%) were retrieved in the C group, whereas several degenerated oocytes were recovered in other groups (33-43% of T, WSD, and T+WSD samples). Levels of two chemokines and one growth factor were reduced (p < 0.04) in FF of follicles with a MI/MII oocyte in WSD+T (CCL11) or T and WSD+T groups (CCL2 and FGF2) compared to C and/or WSD. Intrafollicular cortisol was elevated in T compared to C follicles (p < 0.02). Changes in the expression pattern of 640+ gene products were detected in LGC samples from follicles with degenerated versus MI/MII-stage oocytes. Pathway analysis on RNAs altered by T and/or WSD found enrichment of genes mapping to steroidogenic and immune cell pathways. Female primates experiencing hyperandrogenemia and/or consuming a WSD exhibit an altered intrafollicular microenvironment and reduced oocyte quality/competency, despite displaying menstrual cyclicity.

Effects of follicular fluid of preovulatory follicles of repeat breeder dairy cows with subclinical endometritis on oocyte developmental competence

The aims of the present study were to determine the concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hormonal progesterone, estradiol-17β, insulin growth factor (IGF-1) and magnesium in the serum and the preovulatory follicle follicular fluid (FF) in repeat breeder (RB) cows without (nSCE) or with subclinical endometritis (SCE), and further to examine the effects of this FF on developmental competence of cattle oocytes. In Experiment 1, 13 of 23 clinically healthy Holstein RB cows were identified (uterine PMNs) to have SCE. The cows were estrous synchronized, and 6–12 h after detection of standing estrus, FF and blood of the preovulatory follicles were collected. The mean (±SD) LPS (862.3 ± 148.1 compared with 1063.4 ± 262.8 EU/ml, P = 0.04) and estradiol-17β (188.9 ± 15.8 compared with 162.0 ± 31.5 ng/ml, P = 0.02) concentrations of FF was different between nSCE and SCE cows. In Experiment 2, FF of RB cows with relatively lesser (nSCE, n = 4) and greater (SCE, n = 4) percentages of uterine PMNs was separately added to the oocyte maturation medium for in vitro embryo production. Addition of FF from SCE cows to the oocyte maturation medium resulted in a lesser rate of development to the blastocyst stage than that of the nSCE cows (21.9 ± 1.8 compared with 27.8 ± 2.5%, P < 0.05). Results of the present study indicate greater FF LPS concentration may result in a lesser quality microenvironment milieu for the final stages of oocyte maturation in RB dairy cows with subclinical endometritis. In addition, supplementation of oocyte maturation medium with FF of preovulatory follicles from RB cows with subclinical endometritis resulted in a lesser potential of in vitro oocyte developmental competence.

Interleukin 15 concentrations in follicular fluid and their effect on oocyte maturation in subfertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

To calculate the concentrations of interleukin 15 (IL-15) in follicular fluid (FF) and evaluate their relation with oocyte maturation, follicle size, and patients' body mass index (BMI) and age. Follicular fluid specimens were obtained from 56 subfertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) during oocyte retrieval for measurement of IL-15 concentrations with ELISA. Wilcoxon's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to correlate FF concentrations of IL-15 with follicular size and stage of oocyte maturation, along with patients' BMI and age. IL-15 concentrations in FF of follicles with immature oocytes were significantly greater than those from follicles with mature ones (median 5.333 vs. 3.250pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between IL-15 concentrations and follicle size (r = - 0.333, p = 0.003). No significant correlation was observed between IL-15 concentrations and patients' BMI and age (p > 0.05). IL-15 concentrations in FF are adversely related with the size of the follicles and the maturity of the corresponding retrieved oocytes in a cohort of expected normal responders undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Follicular fluid concentrations of IL-15 should be investigated as a possible predictive factor for oocyte maturity.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Concentration in the Follicular Fluid of Bali Cattle and Its Role in the Oocyte Nuclear Maturation and Fertilization Rate

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of IGF-I in the follicular fluid (FF) of Bali cattle and its role in the nuclear maturation and fertilization rate. The follicular fluid was collected by the aspiration technique, then it was centrifuged at 1500 g for 30 min at 24oC. The supernatant was collected and stored at -20oC until being used in the experiment for analysis of IGF-1. A total of 1105 oocytes were used in this study. The oocytes were matured in M199 without supplementation of bovine serum albumin, with supplementation of BSA, and with supplementations of 10% FF (v/v) from the follicle with diameter O<4 mm, 4≤O<6 mm, 6≤O<8 mm, and O≥8 mm at the luteal phase and then fertilized. The results showed that the concentrations of IGF-I in the FF obtained during the luteal phase was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those obtained during follicular phase. The IGF-I concentrations in the follicular fluid of follicle with diameter smaller than 6 mm were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those with diameters larger than 6 mm. The percentage of nuclear maturation rate of oocytes cultured with FF obtained from follicle with diameter <4 mm was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those obtained from the other groups of follicle diameters. The supplementation of maturation media with BSA and FF were able to improve fertilization rate significantly (P<0.05) compared to maturation media without BSA. In conclusion, the concentration of IGF-I in the follicular fluid obtained during the luteal phase was higher compared to those obtained during the follicular phase. The IGF-I concentrations in the follicular fluid of smaller follicles (diameter <6 mm) were higher compared to those in the large follicles (diameter ≥6 mm). The supplementation of FF can improve the nuclear maturation and fertilization rate

179 CORPUS LUTEUM DEVELOPMENT AFTER FOLLICLE ASPIRATION IS RELATED TO CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASPIRATED FOLLICLE IN DAIRY COWS

The aim of this study was to investigate whether morphology or function of a corpus luteum (CL), which developed after an aspiration of a preovulatory follicle, is related to follicular characteristics such as size or steroid content. If so, CL morphology or function could be used as a retrospective quality parameter for the aspirated follicle or the follicular characteristics as a prospective parameter for the quality of the developing CL. Therefore, 44 aspiration sessions were performed using 18 cows between 26 and 121 days after parturition during the first lactation. Heat was induced in mid-dioestrus with Cloprostenol. A GnRH analogon (Depherelin) were administrated 54 h later. The dominant follicle was aspirated 21 h after administration of the GnRH analogue. The diameter of the dominant follicle at aspiration and the cross-section area of the resulting luteal tissue 14 days later were measured by ultrasound. Concentrations of progesterone (P4) and 17-β-oestradiol (E2) in blood and follicular fluid (FF) were determined by H3-RIA. A CL development occurred in 82% of aspiration sessions after aspirating the dominant follicles. The interval of time between parturition and follicle aspiration did not affect variables investigated. As expected, cross-section area of the luteal tissue was positively correlated with plasma P4 concentration on Day 14 after follicle aspiration (r = 0.54; P &lt; 0.01). The diameter of the aspirated follicle was positively correlated with the plasma P4 concentration on Day 14 after follicle aspiration (r = 0.52; P = 0.02), but the diameter was not correlated with the cross-section. Comparing the FF of follicles that originated a CL after aspiration with follicles that did not, both types had comparable P4 concentrations (578 ± 79 ng mL–1 v. 398 ± 84 ng mL–1; P = 0.2), but the former type presented higher E2 concentrations (206 ± 23 ng mL–1 v. 64 ± 29 ng mL–1, P &lt; 0.01) compared with the latter. The P4 concentrations in FF of follicles that originated a CL after aspiration were positively related to cross-section area of the CL (r = 0.48; P = 0.04), but neither P4 nor E2 concentrations in the FF of preovulatory follicles could be used as a predictor for the plasma P4 concentration at day 14. In conclusion, CL development after follicle aspiration can be used as a retrospective quality parameter of aspirated dominant follicles. Preovulatory follicle diameter as well as cross-section area of the luteal tissue could be used prospectively to identify cows with high plasma P4 levels, and this may help to identify suitable recipients for embryo transfer. This study was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG WE 2458/7-2).