Correlation between the level of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in follicular fluid with fertilization rates in IVF/ ICSI cycles

ABSTRACT

Follicular fluid [FF] plays an important role in oocytes and embryo development, which may contribute to IVF/ICSI success rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between cholesteryl ester transfer protein [CETP] level in FF and the success rate of IVF/ICSI. In a cross-sectional study, FF samples, FF samples were obtained from 100 patients referred to Tabriz Alzahra Hospital. Seventy-nine subjects underwent IVF and the remaining 21 underwent ICSI. The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], apolipoprotein A-I and CETP were measured using enzymatic, turbidometric and ELISA methods respectively. Analysis of the subgroups with different levels of CETP showed a significant lower level of CETP in the subgroup with the lowest number of mature oocytes [p<0.05]. The level of CETP was also considerably lower [18%, p=0.05] in subjects with<50% oocytes fertilization ratio than subjects with >70% of this ratio. While no association was found for pregnancy, the amount of CETP in FF was associated positively to the maturity and the percentage of oocyte fertilization