Follicular fluid content and oocyte quality: from single biochemical markers to metabolomics

The assessment of oocyte quality in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) is getting increasing attention from embryologists. Oocyte selection and the identification of the best oocytes, in fact, would help to limit embryo overproduction and to improve the results of oocyte cryostorage programs. Follic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reproductive biology and endocrinology 2009-05, Vol.7 (40), p.40-40, Article 40
Main Authors: Revelli, Alberto, Delle Piane, Luisa, Casano, Simona, Molinari, Emanuela, Massobrio, Marco, Rinaudo, Paolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomarkers - metabolism
Female
Fertilization in Vitro - methods
Fertilization in vitro, Human
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Follicular Fluid - metabolism
Health aspects
Humans
Metabolomics
Methods
Oocytes
Oocytes - metabolism
Oogenesis
Ovaries
Properties
Review
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Summary:The assessment of oocyte quality in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) is getting increasing attention from embryologists. Oocyte selection and the identification of the best oocytes, in fact, would help to limit embryo overproduction and to improve the results of oocyte cryostorage programs. Follicular fluid (FF) is easily available during oocyte pick-up and theorically represents an optimal source on non-invasive biochemical predictors of oocyte quality. Unfortunately, however, the studies aiming to find a good molecular predictor of oocyte quality in FF were not able to identify substances that could be used as reliable markers of oocyte competence to fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy. In the last years, a well definite trend toward passing from the research of single molecular markers to more complex techniques that study all metabolites of FF has been observed. The metabolomic approach is a powerful tool to study biochemical predictors of oocyte quality in FF, but its application in this area is still at the beginning. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about the biochemical predictors of oocyte quality in FF, describing both the results coming from studies on single biochemical markers and those deriving from the most recent studies of metabolomics.
ISSN:1477-7827
1477-7827
DOI:10.1186/1477-7827-7-40