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Follicular fluid lipidomics reveals lipid alterations by LH addition during IVF cycles

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Abstract

Introduction

Ovulation induction protocols are key components for performing assisted reproduction treatments successfully. The importance of adding exogenous LH to the controlled ovarian stimulation protocols in young women is still a matter of discussion in the clinical practice.

Objective

To estimate how LH addition to controlled ovarian stimulation protocols may affect the follicular fluid lipid profile of women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

Methods

We conducted the study using 28 self-paired samples, 14 per group. The patients received FSH during their first cycle of ovarian stimulation (FSH group). If the treatment did not result in pregnancy, the same patients returned for a new cycle and received stimulus with the addition of LH to the previous protocol (Low-dose-LH group). Lipidomics analysis was performed by UPLC-MSE mass spectrometry. The software Progenesis QI was used to identify potential lipid biomarkers. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 18.0 and MetaboAnalyst 2.0 software.

Results

The analysis of clinical data showed no statistically significant differences between groups, in contrast to lipidomic analysis. Concerning lipidomic profile, the lipids differentially expressed in FSH group belong to the following subclasses:triacylglycerols; branched fatty acids and diacylglycerophosphoethanolamines; while in Low-dose-LH group the subclasses are gangliosides; acylglycerophosphoethanolamines; triacylglycerols; acylglycerophosphoserines; GalNAcβ1-3Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc-(Globo series); amino fatty acids; triacylglycerols and prostaglandins.

Conclusion

The differences found between the groups may contribute to the establishment of potential therapeutical targets based on LH-associated lipid biomarkers aiming to individualize treatments and obtain reproductive success.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the funding (478515/2012-0) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Reproduction Section, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sao Paulo Federal University, Rua Embaú, 231, Sao Paulo, SP, 04039-060, Brazil

    Lívia do Vale Teixeira da Costa, Fernanda Bertuccez Cordeiro, Raquel Cellin Rochetti, Daniel Suslik Zylbersztejn, Agnaldo Pereira Cedenho, Edson Guimarães Lo Turco & Renato Fraietta

  2. Waters Corporation, Alameda Tocantins, 125, 27° andar, São Paulo, SP, 06455-020, Brazil

    Michael Murgu

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  1. Lívia do Vale Teixeira da Costa
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Correspondence to Edson Guimarães Lo Turco.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the study. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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The study is in accordance with ethical standards of the Sao Paulo Federal University Research Ethics Committee, such as the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki guidelines.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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da Costa, L.V.T., Cordeiro, F.B., Rochetti, R.C. et al. Follicular fluid lipidomics reveals lipid alterations by LH addition during IVF cycles. Metabolomics 13, 70 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-017-1207-x

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