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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on October 20, 2007
Human Reproduction 2007 22(12):3178-3183; doi:10.1093/humrep/dem328
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Reproductive implication of D-aspartic acid in human pre-ovulatory follicular fluid

G. D’Aniello1,3, N. Grieco1, M.A. Di Filippo1, F. Cappiello1, E. Topo2, E. D’Aniello2 and S. Ronsini1

1 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, Hospital S. Luca, 84078 Vallo della Lucania SA, Italy 2 Department of Biochemistry and Neurobiology, Zoological Stazione A Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy

3 Correspondence address. E-mail: gdaniello{at}hotmail.com

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we report that D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) occurs in human ovarian follicular fluid and that a relationship may exist between the concentration of this amino acid and oocyte quality.

METHODS: Samples of pre-ovulatory follicle fluid were obtained from 20 patients undergoing an IVF programme. The concentration of D-Asp was measured by using specific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a D-aspartate oxidase.

RESULTS: D-Asp occurs in human follicular fluid at a mean concentration of 14.98 ± 4.51 nmol/ml. A significant difference in the content of this amino acid in the follicular fluid in relation to patient’s age exists. In younger women aged 22–34 years (group A), D-Asp was found at a concentration of 19.11 ± 1.91 nmol/ml, whereas in patients aged 35–40 years (group B), it decreased to 10.86 ± 1.22 nmol/ml (P < 0.01). In addition, this amino acid was linked to oocyte quality; a relationship exists between D-Asp follicular concentration and the percentage of good quality metaphase II oocytes (P < 0.01), as well as the fertilization rate.

CONCLUSIONS: In human follicular fluid, D-Asp is present at a relatively higher concentration in younger women than in older patients and there appears to be a relationship between the concentration of D-Asp and fertility outcome parameters. These findings suggest that follicular D-Asp concentration may be considered as an alternative or additional biochemical marker for oocyte quality in patients undergoing IVF programmes.

Key words: D-aspartic acid/amino acids/human pre-ovulatory follicular fluid/in vitro fertilization

Submitted on June 16, 2007; resubmitted on September 13, 2007; accepted on September 20, 2007.


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