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Molecular Mining of Follicular Fluid for Reliable Biomarkers of Human Oocyte and Embryo Developmental Competence

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In Vitro Fertilization

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Abstract

The occurrence of an intrafollicular biochemistry that can be used to relate oocyte developmental competence with quantitative and qualitative aspects of specific components of follicular fluid aspirated at ovum retrieval has been a goal of research in clinical IVF for decades. As a complex mixture of bioactive molecules, some produced in situ and others serum borne, there is no shortage of candidates for investigation. This chapter focuses on current methods of high-resolution biochemical analysis that can be applied to follicular biochemistry, which candidates may be the most promising in this regard, and specific investigational approaches that may have the greatest potential to fulfill this goal. In particular, emphasis is placed on whether there is a need to know both the target(s) and function(s) of candidate molecules as related to the developmental biology of the oocyte.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

    Jonathan Van Blerkom

  2. Colorado Reproductive Endocrinology, Rose Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA

    Jonathan Van Blerkom

Authors
  1. Jonathan Van Blerkom
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan Van Blerkom .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Biology Associates – Prelude, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Zsolt Peter Nagy

  2. Astra Fertility Group, Mississauga, ON, Canada

    Alex C. Varghese

  3. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

Review Questions

Review Questions

  1. 1.

    Which follicular fluid components that have been related to competence may be the most informative and easily quantifiable for the typical clinical IVF program?

  2. 2.

    What are the apparent physiological consequences of variability in the expression of angiogenic factors at the transcriptional and translation levels and (i) how might they be detected noninvasively and (ii) be related to oocyte and preimplantation embryo developmental competence?

  3. 3.

    What are the logistical issues that are likely to be associated with the collection and preparation of individual fluid aspirates during the oocyte retrieval phase of an IVF cycle?

  4. 4.

    At present, what highly compelling evidence related to outcome exists that would warrant follicular fluid analysis in routine IVF practice for selective purposes?

  5. 5.

    Going forward in considering the biochemical and molecular complexity of follicular fluid, what other classes of components, such as lipids or bioactive peptides, might be useful to investigate as potential competence biomarkers and why?

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Van Blerkom, J. (2019). Molecular Mining of Follicular Fluid for Reliable Biomarkers of Human Oocyte and Embryo Developmental Competence. In: Nagy, Z., Varghese, A., Agarwal, A. (eds) In Vitro Fertilization. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43011-9_78

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43011-9_78

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43011-9

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