NMR metabolic profiling of follicular fluid for investigating the different causes of female infertility: a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Several metabolomics studies have correlated follicular fluid (FF) metabolite composition with oocyte competence to fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy but there is a scarcity of research examining the metabolic effects of various gynaecological diseases.

Objectives: In this study we aimed to analyze and correlate the metabolic profile of FF from women who were following in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments with their different infertility pathologies.

Methods: We selected 53 women undergoing IVF who were affected by: tubal diseases, unexplained infertility, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). FF of the study participants was collected at the time of oocytes retrieval. Metabolomic analysis of FF was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Results: FF presents some significant differences in various infertility pathologies. Although it was not possible to discriminate between FF of control participants and women with tubal diseases and unexplained infertility, comparison of FF metabolic profile from control women with patients with endometriosis and PCOS revealed significant differences in some metabolites that can be correlated to the causes of infertility.

Conclusion: NMR-based metabolic profiling may be successfully applied to find diagnostic biomarkers for PCOS and endometriosis and it might be also used to predict oocyte developmental potential and subsequent outcome.

Keywords: Follicular fluid; Gynaecological pathologies; In vitro fertilization (IVF); Infertility factors; Metabolomics; NMR spectroscopy.