Prediction of the Presence of Lipid Derivatives in Follicular Fluid and Reproductive Outcome among Infertile Women by MALDI Mass Spectrometry Method

Abstract

It has been documented that specific follicular fluid (FF) biochemical characteristics may be essential to determining oocyte quality. Lipid derivatives have most important role in the fertilization process and embryonic development. MALDI mass spectrometry is used for the diagnosis of biomolecules in the FF and serum of infertile women. FF and blood samples from 13 infertile women (20-38years old) undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was obtained, stored frozen at -80º C, and later analyzed for Lipid Derivatives. Both FF and serum samples were compared and the Mfg was used as similarity index. For comparison between the FF and serum samples for one person, the Mass spectrometry (MS) intensity ratio versus molecular weight, between the FF and serum samples were calculated. Out of 13 patients, three ongoing pregnancies were observed, so the percentage of pregnancy in the studied population was 25%. The patients who became pregnant after micro-injection had higher unsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acid than other samples, but Stearic and Palmitic fatty acids were not high in these patients. A number of specific fatty esters and peptide derivatives in the FF and serum samples were found that may help to improve oocyte quality.

Keywords

• Follicular fluid
• infertility
• MALDI mass spectrometry
• Lipid derivatives