Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation

 

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Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Vol. 11, No. 8, 566-569 (2004)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsgi.2004.05.009

Letter

Soluble Fas Concentrations in the Follicular Fluid and Oocyte-Cumulus Complex Culture Medium From Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: Association With Oocyte Maturity, Fertilization, and Embryo Quality

Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner, MD

2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; malamitsi{at}aias.gr

Angeliki Sarandakou, PhD

Stavroula Baka, MD

Nikolaos Vrachnis, MD

Evangelia Kouskouni, MD

Dimitrios Hassiakos, MD

2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Objective: Because soluble Fas (sFas) inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis by preventing death signal transduction, we determined sFas concentrations in the follicular fluid (FF) and oocyte-cumulus complex culture medium (CM) from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IV) in order to associate its concentrations with oocyte maturity, fertilization, and embryo quality.

Methods: We studied 82 follicles from 11 healthy women (mean age, 35.4 ± 3.8 years) using a long protocol for IVF treatment. Individual FF and matched CM samples were immediately centrifuged at 4C and sFas concentrations were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: sFas concentrations were significantly higher in FF than in CM (P <.0001) and when oocytes were mature rather than immature (P <.002). Of 70 mature and 12 immature oocytes, 56 (80%) and two (16.6%), respectively, were fertilized. sFas concentrations in CM were significantly lower when mature oocytes were fertilized versus nonfertilized (P <.005). sFas concentrations in FF and CM were significantly related in an inverse manner to embryo quality (P = .004 and P = .0002, respectively).

Conclusion: FF and CM from women undergoing IVF contain sFas. The latter has anti-apoptotic properties and levels are higher: in FF when oocytes are mature and in CM when oocytes are nonfertilized. Furthermore, FF and CM sFas concentrations are negatively correlated with embryo quality.

Key Words: In vitro fertilization • soluble Fas • oocyte maturity • fertilization • embryo quality


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