Acylcarnitine esters profiling of serum and follicular fluid in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Research

Judit Bene¹  Béla Melegh¹  József Bódis²  Ákos Várnagy²  Gábor L Kovács³  Endre Sulyok⁴ 

[1] Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti u.12, H-7624, Pécs, Hungary;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Édesanyák u. 17, H-7624, Pécs, Hungary;Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u.15, H-7624, Pécs, Hungary;Institute of Public Health and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.4, H-7621, Pécs, Hungary;

关键词: In vitro fertilization;    Follicular fluid;    Acylcarnitines;    Oocyte number;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7827-11-67

 received in 2013-03-29, accepted in 2013-07-15,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundL-carnitine-mediated beta-oxidation of fatty acids has a well established role in energy supply of oocytes and embryos. Disturbed carnitine metabolism may impair the reproductive potential in IVF and can serve as a biomarker of pregnancy outcome.MethodsOur study was performed between March 24, 2011 and May 9, 2011. We performed 44 unselected IVF cycles, (aged 23–40 years (mean: 32.3+/−5.1 years) and had BMI of 17.3-34.7 (mean: 23.80+/−4.9). Samples were also obtained from 18 healthy women of similar age admitted for minor elective surgery to serve as control for plasma carnitine profile. Serum and follicular fluid (FF) free carnitine (FC) and 20 major acylcarnitines (ACs) were measured by ESI/MS/MS method.ResultsSerum FC and AC levels in IVF patients were comparable to those in healthy control women. In FF FC and short-chain AC concentrations were similar to those in maternal serum, however, the levels of medium-chain, and long-chain AC esters were markedly reduced (p<0.05). The serum to FF ratio of individual carnitine compounds increased progressively with increasing carbon chain length of AC esters (p<0.05). There was a marked reduction in total carnitine, FC and AC levels of serum and FF in patients with oocyte number of >9 and/or with embryo number of >6 as compared to the respective values of <9 and/or <6 (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn IVF patients with better reproductive potential the carnitine/AC pathway appears to be upregulated that may result in excess carintine consumption and relative depletion of carnitine pool. Consequently, IVF patients may benefit from carnitine supplementation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Várnagy et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013