The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques

Abstract

Low follicular fluid homocysteine level is associated with a better chance of clinical pregnancy.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and MTHFR gene 677 C>T polymorphism: questionable role in female infertility

“…Vegetarian diet is known to be deficient in vitamin B 12 , an important coenzyme in the methionine pathway. Its deficiency therefore can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia.…”

“…Homocysteine is an important intermediate in methionine metabolism involving the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Accumulation of homocysteine may result from a deficiency of vitamins involved in its metabolism (vitamin B 6 , B 12 , folic acid) or a mutation of genes encoding the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, 1 cardiovascular diseases, 2 stroke, 3 peripheral venous thrombosis 4 and neurodegenerative disease.…”

“…It is believed that hyperhomocysteinemia causes defective follicular Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow-226003, U.P., India development, oxidative damage to oocyte membrane, impairs chorionic villus vascularization, causes implantation failure and alters intrauterine milieu making it non-conducive for fertilization or implantation. 11,12 The follicular fluid homocysteine level is a reflection of systemic homocysteine metabolism. 13 Studies of follicular fluid in women undergoing assisted reproduction suggest an inverse association between follicular fluid homocysteine levels and oocyte and embryo quality.…”

Notch signaling pathway in cumulus cells can be a novel marker to identify poor and normal responder IVF patients

“…Many studies have been performed on choosing good-quality oocytes and embryos for ICSI patients, and several articles have been published on growth factors, hormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and gap junctional complexes on the adjacent follicular cells in patients undergoing ICSI [8,[10][11][12][13][14][15]. Currently, there is increasing interest in signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch pathways) that are important for developing oocytes.…”

“…Embryos with equallysized blastomeres and without cytoplasmic fragmentation were regarded as "grade 1", embryos with equally-sized blastomeres and minor cyto-plasmic fragmentations were regarded as "grade 2", embryos without equally-sized blastomeres and without cytoplasmic fragmentations were regarded as "grade 3", embryos with or without equally-sized blastomeres and with major cytoplasmic fragmentations were regarded as "grade 4", embryos with blastomeres that cannot be distinguished and with major cytoplasmic fragmentations were regarded as "grade 5" [10].…”