Proteomic profile of follicular fluid, granulosa cells and embryo culture medium of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization cycles: identification of factors evolved at oocyte quality and embryo development in patients with different infertility etiologies

Abstract

The follicular fluid (FF) is composed by factors produced in follicular cells metabolism and plasma factors selective transferred through follicular barrier. The study of FF composition and granulosa cells (GC) expression can elucidate the ovarian physiology, oocyte and follicular development processes, and also allows the finding of markers for better selection of oocyte and embryo in in vitro fertilization cycles. The proteomics, an extensive protein study, evaluate the expression of proteins in tissue, cells or biological fluids, which permits the overall protein expression characterization, differential expression and knowledge of gene function in the post-genomic era. The mass spectrometry approach has been applied in order to find new protein biomarkers, and has potential for clarify complexes biological profiles and pathologic mechanisms. The goals of this study are evaluate the proteomic profile of FF, GC and embryo medium culture (EMC) of infertile patient with different etiologies and submitted to in vitro fertilization cycles, using mass spectrometry approach. We are going to include FF, GC and EMC of patients with endometriosis grades III and IV, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and premature ovarian failure. (AU)