Browse

You are looking at 51 - 60 of 196 items for

Sarah Lensen Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Search for other papers by Sarah Lensen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Sarah Armstrong Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, The Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield

Search for other papers by Sarah Armstrong in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Emily Vaughan NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow, University of Bristol, UK, Academic Women’s Health Unit, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK

Search for other papers by Emily Vaughan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Lucy Caughey Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Search for other papers by Lucy Caughey in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Michelle Peate Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Search for other papers by Michelle Peate in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Cynthia Farquhar M&HS Building 507, 28 Park Ave, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand

Search for other papers by Cynthia Farquhar in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Allan Pacey Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, The Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield

Search for other papers by Allan Pacey in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Adam Balen Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Great George St, Leeds, UK

Search for other papers by Adam Balen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Elaine Wainwright Epidemiology Group, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, UK
Department for Health, University of Bath Honorary Research Fellow, Bath Spa University, UK

Search for other papers by Elaine Wainwright in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) add-ons are techniques, medicines, or procedures used in addition to standard IVF with the aim of improving the chance of success. The United Kingdom’s IVF regulator, the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority (HFEA) developed a traffic light system to categorise add-ons as either green, amber, or red, based on results of randomised controlled trials. We undertook qualitative interviews to explore understanding and views of the HFEA traffic light system among IVF clinicians, embryologists, and IVF patients across Australia and the United Kingdom (n = 73). Overall, participants were supportive of the intention of the traffic light system; however, many limitations were raised. It was widely recognised that a simple traffic light system necessarily omits information which may be important to understanding the evidence. In particular, the red category was used in scenarios that patients viewed as having different implications for their decision-making, including ‘no evidence’ and ‘evidesssnce of harm’. Patients were surprised at the absence of any green add-ons and questioned the value of a traffic light system in this context. Many participants considered the website a helpful starting point, but desired more detail, including the contributing studies, results specific to patient demographics (e.g. <35 years and >35 years), and inclusion of more options (e.g. acupuncture). Overall, participants believed the website to be reliable and trustworthy, particularly due to the Government affiliation, and despite some concerns regarding transparency and an overly cautious regulator. The limitations of the traffic light system could be considered in any future updates to the HFEA website and others developing similar decision support tools.

Lay summary

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) add-ons are medical procedures or technologies that may be used in addition to standard IVF. They are usually used with the aim of increasing the chance of pregnancy and live birth. However, most add-ons have not been studied in high-quality clinical trials so it is uncertain whether they are beneficial. The UK’s IVF regulator developed a traffic light system for add-ons. They label them red, amber, or green, depending on whether there is evidence the add-on increases the chance of having a baby from IVF. We interviewed IVF patients, IVF doctors, and embryologists about the traffic light system. Overall, many people thought it was a reliable and trustworthy resource – however, many problems were identified. People generally thought the system was too simple and didn’t give enough information, it had limited detail about the number and types of studies included, and some important add-ons were missing, such as acupuncture.

Open access
Rageia Elfageih NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

Search for other papers by Rageia Elfageih in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ahmed Reda NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

Search for other papers by Ahmed Reda in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Kristín Rós Kjartansdóttir NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
Danish National Genome Center, Ørestads Boulevard, København, Denmark

Search for other papers by Kristín Rós Kjartansdóttir in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Valentina Pampanini NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Piazza di Sant'Onofrio, Roma, Italia

Search for other papers by Valentina Pampanini in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Olle Söder NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

Search for other papers by Olle Söder in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Jan-Bernd Stukenborg NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

Search for other papers by Jan-Bernd Stukenborg in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Testicular samples obtained for fertility preservation often need to be transported between clinics. This study aimed to mimic this short-term hypothermic storage (4–8°C) and explore the impact of these conditions and the transport medium composition on prepubertal rat testicular tissue samples. Testicular tissue samples obtained from 7 days post-partum rats were transferred to six compositionally different basal culture media and a balanced salt solution, which had been kept at 4–8°C prior to transfer. The samples were preserved for either 12 or 24 h in these hypothermic conditions. The potential effects of the short-term storage were evaluated by assessing the morphology, measuring the testosterone levels by radioimmunoassay and analysing 96 genes with TaqMan Low-Density Arrays. Levels of gene expression related to energy, apoptosis, and angiogenesis pathways were altered after hypothermic storage for 12 and especially 24 h. We observed only minor differences in gene expression profiles for germ and testicular somatic cells and no differences in tissue morphology and testosterone production levels. Short-term hypothermic storage of testicular tissue with a maximum duration of 24 h does not affect the overall expression profile of testicular cell-specific genes; however, in a minor way, it affects the expression of specific cellular genes.

Lay summary

Male fertility depends on the proper functioning of cells which develop into reproductive cells. Due to an increasing number of childhood cancer survivors suffering from treatment-related fertility problems, as well as recent reports showing a dramatic decrease in sperm counts over the last decades, male fertility preservation has become an important research topic. To date, there is no method to restore fertility for men who are not able to produce sperm. One promising method to preserve the potential fertility of these patients is freezing tissue or cells from the testicles for future fertility treatments. A critical phase in freezing testicular tissue or cells is the time between removing the tissue from the testicles and freezing it. To better understand the impact of this phase on the quality of the testicular tissue, we used the testes of rats as a model for our research. We found that cooling testis tissue has only minor effects on the expression of genes that are important for testis function.

Open access
Emily Bailie Institute of Cell Biology, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Emily Bailie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mila Maidarti Institute of Cell Biology, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Mila Maidarti in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Robert Hawthorn Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK

Search for other papers by Robert Hawthorn in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Stuart Jack Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Stuart Jack in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Neale Watson Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Wexham St, Slough, UK

Search for other papers by Neale Watson in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Evelyn E Telfer Institute of Cell Biology, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Evelyn E Telfer in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Richard A Anderson MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Richard A Anderson in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Androgens are essential in normal ovarian function and follicle health, but hyperandrogenism, as seen in polycystic ovary syndrome, is associated with disordered follicle development. There are few data on the effect of long-term exposure to high levels of testosterone as found in transgender men receiving gender-affirming endocrine therapy. In this study, we investigate the effect of testosterone on the development, morphological health and DNA damage and repair capacity of human ovarian follicles in vivo and their survival in vitro. Whole ovaries were obtained from transgender men (mean age: 27.6 ± 1.7 years; range: 20–34 years, n = 8) at oophorectomy taking pre-operative testosterone therapy. This was compared to cortical biopsies from age-matched healthy women obtained at caesarean section (mean age: 31.8 ± 1.5 years; range: 25–35 years, n = 8). Cortical tissues were dissected into fragments and either immediately fixed for histological analysis or cultured for 6 days and subsequently fixed. Follicle classification and morphological health were evaluated from histological sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and expression of γH2AX as a marker of DNA damage by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In uncultured tissue, testosterone exposure was associated with reduced follicle growth activation, poor follicle health and increased DNA damage. After 6 days of culture, there was enhanced follicle activation compared to the control with further deterioration in morphological health and increased DNA damage. These data indicate that high circulating concentrations of testosterone have effects on the primordial and small-growing follicles of the ovary. These results may have implications for transgender men receiving gender-affirming therapy prior to considering pregnancy or fertility preservation measures.

Lay summary

As part of gender transitioning, transgender men take testosterone therapy. While androgens like testosterone are essential to maintain ovarian health, the effects of long-term testosterone treatment on the ovary are unclear. This study examines whether testosterone impacts ovarian follicle growth activation, follicle health and whether it causes DNA damage. It also looks at how well these follicles grow in tissue culture. The results showed there was a higher proportion of non-growing ovarian follicles in the ovaries of trans men, they appeared less healthy and there were higher levels of DNA damage. After 6 days of tissue culture, there were more growing follicles in transgender ovaries compared to control, but follicle health further deteriorated and there are increased levels of DNA damage. These results identify new effects of testosterone on the ovary and highlight the importance of discussing fertility preservation options prior to starting testosterone.

Open access
Sarah McCredie School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, New South Wales, Australia

Search for other papers by Sarah McCredie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Belinda An School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, New South Wales, Australia

Search for other papers by Belinda An in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Monika McShane Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Search for other papers by Monika McShane in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
William Ledger School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, New South Wales, Australia
Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Search for other papers by William Ledger in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Christos A Venetis School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, New South Wales, Australia
Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Search for other papers by Christos A Venetis in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

A prospective longitudinal cohort study aimed to longitudinally examine the kinetics of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Pregnant women with stored first-trimester serum samples were recruited at 24–28 weeks gestation during their gestational diabetes testing, where they provided an additional serum sample. The samples were analysed for AMH, oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. A decrease in serum AMH was observed in 40 out of 45 (88.9%) (95% CI: 75.9–96.3%) of the participants in this study. The median serum AMH concentration was 10.9 pmol/L in the first trimester and 6.5 pmol/L during the second trimester, with a significantly different distribution of the values between the first-trimester and the second-trimester AMH samples (P < 0.001). The median percentage of AMH difference of −39.8%. This study demonstrated a significant decrease in serum AMH levels from the first to the second trimester of pregnancy. The absolute decrease in AMH levels seems to be positively associated with first-trimester AMH levels, whereas the percentage of AMH difference is not. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential physiological mechanisms of this finding.

Lay summary

Anti-Müllerian hormone, also known as AMH, is produced by developing ovarian follicles in the ovary. The concentration of AMH in the serum is used as a marker of ovarian reserve. This marker has been shown to vary throughout the menstrual cycle and in women using hormonal contraception. This study examined this marker in women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy to determine if it is variable throughout pregnancy. The study found that there was a significant decrease from the first to second trimester, with a larger decrease seen in women who had a higher first-trimester concentration of this marker. Further research is required to determine the physiological mechanism which causes the reduction of AMH in pregnancy.

Open access
Scott C Mackenzie MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Scott C Mackenzie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Catherine A Moakes Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Catherine A Moakes in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
W Colin Duncan MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by W Colin Duncan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Stephen Tong Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Search for other papers by Stephen Tong in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Andrew W Horne MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Search for other papers by Andrew W Horne in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Graphical abstract

Lay summary

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. When detected early, treatment is often with a medication called methotrexate. When methotrexate does not work, surgery is required. A recent clinical trial of ectopic pregnancy treatment (called GEM3) found that adding a drug called gefitinib to methotrexate did not reduce the need for surgery. We have used data from the GEM3 trial, combined with data collected 12 months after the trial finished, to investigate post-methotrexate pregnancy outcomes. We found no difference in pregnancy rates, pregnancy loss rates and recurrent ectopic pregnancy rates between those treated medically only and those who subsequently also needed surgery. The surgical technique used also did not affect pregnancy rates. This research provides reassurance that women with ectopic pregnancies treated medically who need surgery have similar post-treatment pregnancy outcomes to those treated successfully medically.

Open access
Soo Young Baik Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Soo Young Baik in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Alisha Maini Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Alisha Maini in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Haidee Tinning Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Haidee Tinning in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Dapeng Wang LeedsOmics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Dapeng Wang in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Daman J Adlam Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK

Search for other papers by Daman J Adlam in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Peter T Ruane Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK

Search for other papers by Peter T Ruane in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Niamh Forde Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Niamh Forde in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Obesity is a rapidly growing public health issue among women of reproductive age associated with decreased reproductive function including implantation failure. This can result from a myriad of factors including impaired gametes and endometrial dysfunction. The mechanisms of how obesity-related hyperinsulinaemia disrupts endometrial function are poorly understood. We investigated potential mechanisms by which insulin alters endometrial transcript expression. Ishikawa cells were seeded into a microfluidics device attached to a syringe pump to deliver a constant flow rate of 1 µL/min of the following: (i) control (ii) vehicle control (acidified PBS), or (iii) insulin (10 ng/mL) for 24 h (n = 3 biological replicates). Insulin-induced transcriptomic response of endometrial epithelial cells was determined via RNA sequencing, and DAVID and Webgestalt to identify Gene Ontology (GO) terms and signalling pathways. A total of 29 transcripts showed differential expression levels across two comparison groups (control vs vehicle control; vehicle control vs insulin). Nine transcripts were differentially expressed in vehicle control vs insulin comparison (P < 0.05). Functional annotation analysis of transcripts altered by insulin (n = 9) identified three significantly enriched GO terms: SRP-dependent co-translational protein targeting to membrane, poly(A) binding, and RNA binding (P < 0.05). The overrepresentation analysis found three significantly enriched signalling pathways relating to insulin-induced transcriptomic response: protein export, glutathione metabolism, and ribosome pathways (P < 0.05). Transfection of siRNA for RAPSN successfully knocked down expression (P < 0.05), but this did not have any effect on cellular morphology. Insulin-induced dysregulation of biological functions and pathways highlights potential mechanisms by which high insulin concentrations within maternal circulation may perturb endometrial receptivity.

Lay summary

Changes in components of blood associated with obesity in women of reproductive age can have consequences for pregnancy success. These changes to circulating molecules associated with obesity can alter the ability of the endometrium (the innermost lining of the womb/uterus) to be receptive to an embryo to implant – a key stage of successful pregnancy. Understanding which molecules contribute to this is difficult and one in particular, insulin, can change the role of the endometrium. Studying this is limited to static culture, that is, the cells are not exposed to sustained and high concentrations of Insulin that could occur in the mother. In this study, we use a new laboratory-based approach (microfluidics) that allows us to mimic maternal circulation. We have determined that exposure of these endometrial cells to insulin changes the expression of specific genes that may lead to the inability of the endometrium to support implantation and early pregnancy.

Open access
Free access
Velez Carolina Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Pampa (UNLPam), Argentina
National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Argentina

Search for other papers by Velez Carolina in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Clauzure Mariangeles Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Pampa (UNLPam), Argentina
National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Argentina

Search for other papers by Clauzure Mariangeles in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Williamson Delia Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Pampa (UNLPam), Argentina

Search for other papers by Williamson Delia in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Garcia Monica Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Pampa (UNLPam), Argentina

Search for other papers by Garcia Monica in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Koncurat Mirta Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Pampa (UNLPam), Argentina

Search for other papers by Koncurat Mirta in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Barbeito Claudio National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Argentina
Laboratory of Descriptive, Comparative and Experimental Histology and Embriology (LHYEDEC). Faculty of Veterinary Science, National University of La Plata (UNLP), Argentina

Search for other papers by Barbeito Claudio in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

In the present work, we emphasize the studies about integrins and their receptors in pig placental interface at different times of gestation. Uterine placental interface (n = 24) of 17, 30, 60 and 70 days of gestation (dg) and non-pregnant uterus (n = 4) of crossbred sows were used. The presence of αvβ3 (ITGAV (integrin subunit alpha V) ITGB3 (integrin subunit beta 3)) and α5β1 (ITGA5 (integrin subunit alpha V) ITGB3 (integrin subunit beta 3)) integrins, and their ligands fibronectin (FN) and osteopontin (OPN/ SPP1), was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the immunolabeled area percentage (IAP) and the optical density (OD) were determined. The integrins and its ligands analyzed have presented peaks of expression in early and mid-gestation, both in IAP and in the OD area, decreasing at 70 dg. These temporal changes showed us that the molecules studied in this work participate in embryo/feto–maternal attachment, variably. Besides, we found a significant correlation both in the intensity and in the extension of immunostaining for trophoblastic FN and endometrial αvβ3, and trophoblastic OPN and endometrial α5β1, throughout the entire pig pregnancy. At late gestation, there is notable placental remodeling with subsequent removal or renewal of folds at the uterine–placental interface that results in the loss of focal adhesions. The decrease of the expression of some integrins and their ligands in late gestation, particularly at 70 dg, would demonstrate that there would be other adhesion molecules and other ligands that could be participating in the establishment of the maternal–fetal interface.

Lay summary

To carry a successful pregnancy, the formation of the placenta in pigs depends on adhesion molecules. Some of these molecules called integrins bind to other molecules such as fibronectin (FN) and osteopontin (OPN/SPP1). The variation in those molecule amounts during gestation would indicate which molecule is participating and what role it plays in pregnancy. We worked with pig placentas of early, mid- and late- gestation and non-pregnant uteruses. αvβ3 (ITGAV (integrin subunit alpha V) ITGB3 (integrin subunit beta 3)) and α5β1 (ITGA5 (integrin subunit alpha 5) ITGB1 (integrin subunit beta 1)) integrins, FN and OPN were found until mid-gestation but not at late gestation, suggesting that other types of molecules have a role in the last period of gestation.

Open access
Noof Abdulrahman Alrabiah School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
Biological Sciences Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Search for other papers by Noof Abdulrahman Alrabiah in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Constantine A Simintiras School of Animal Sciences, Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Search for other papers by Constantine A Simintiras in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Alexander C O Evans School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland

Search for other papers by Alexander C O Evans in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Patrick Lonergan School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland

Search for other papers by Patrick Lonergan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Trudee Fair School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland

Search for other papers by Trudee Fair in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Follicular fluid (FF), a product of vascular transudate and granulosa and thecal cell secretions, is the milieu that has evolved to support oocyte growth and maturation which plays a central role in oocyte quality determination. Therefore, a suboptimal FF composition may be reflected in compromised oocyte progression through maturation, fertilization, or embryo development. To date, the composition of bovine FF remains understudied. To address this, we comprehensively characterized the metabolomic constituency of bovine FF in the period during which the oocyte undergoes meiotic maturation. More specifically, FF from pre (−24 h) and peri (−2 h)-ovulatory follicles was profiled by high-throughput untargeted ultra-HPLC tandem mass spectroscopy. A total of 634 metabolites were identified, comprising lipids (37.1%), amino acids (30.0%), xenobiotics (11.5%), nucleotides (6.8%), carbohydrates (4.4%), cofactors and vitamins (4.4%), peptides (3.6%), and energy substrates (2.1%). The concentrations of 67 metabolites were significantly affected by the stage of follicle development, 33.3% (n = 21) were reduced (P ≤ 0.05) by a mean of 9.0-fold, whereas 46 were elevated (P ≤ 0.05) by a mean of 1.7-fold in peri- vs pre-ovulatory FF. The most pronounced individual metabolite concentration decreases were observed in hypoxanthine (98.9-fold), xanthine (65.7-fold), 17β-oestradiol (12.4-fold), and inosine (4.6-fold). In contrast, the greatest increases were in retinal (4.9-fold), 1-methyl-5-imidazoleacetate (2.7-fold), and isovalerylcarnitine (2.7-fold). This global metabolomic analysis of bovine FF temporal dynamics provides new information for understanding the environment supporting oocyte maturation and facilitating ovulation that has the potential for improving oocyte quality both invivo and in vitro.

Lay Summary

The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system, and they produce and store eggs in structures known as ‘follicles’. Depending on the species, one or more follicles release an egg from the ovary during ovulation. FF, which is formed from the secretions of follicle cells and substances delivered from the bloodstream, bathes the eggs as they develop within their follicles. For pregnancy to happen, the egg must be capable of being fertilised by a sperm cell, developing into an embryo and implanting it in the womb. FF has evolved to support the egg to achieve this. Using the cow as a model, this study looks at the composition of FF during the final hours before ovulation, when the egg becomes mature and ready for fertilisation. More than 600 different substances were identified, providing new information, that has the potential to improve egg quality.

Open access
Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip Private Academic Consultant, Bangkok Thailand

Search for other papers by Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
Viroj Wiwanitkit Dr DY Patil University, Pune, India

Search for other papers by Viroj Wiwanitkit in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Open access