Relationships between lipids levels in blood plasma, follicular fluid and seminal plasma with ovarian response and sperm concentration regardless of age and body mass index

Abstract

Purpose: There is a considerable literature supporting the role of lipids in fertility. However, little is known about their impact on male and female gametes. Our study aimed to investigate the relationships between lipids levels in serum, follicular fluid and seminal plasma with ovarian response and sperm concentration regardless of age and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: 51 follicular fluid and serum samples of IVF-ICSI cycles and 52 seminal plasma and serum samples of males in the infertility study were analyzed for cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-esterified fatty acids. The parameters used to assess gonadal response were number of mature oocytes in metaphase II and total motile sperm. Differences between groups were studied by means Principal Component Analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, Student's T, and multivariate linear regression.

Results: Using a multivariate linear regression model to exclude the effect of the age and BMI, we found that the lipid profile in follicular fluid and plasma influence inversely and significantly on ovarian response and the number of matured oocytes recovered. Moreover, we found that seminal lipid levels are predictors of seminal quality independent of plasma lipid values.

Conclusion: Our current analysis demonstrates the association of low ovarian response and low number of motile sperms with abnormal lipids levels.

Keywords: Gonadal response; Lipids; Lípidos; Oocyte; Ovocito; Respuesta gonadal; Semen; Sperm.