Abstract

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SERUM AND FOLLICULAR FLUID OF COPPER AND MAGNESIUM CONCENTRATION WITH EMBRYO QUALITY IN WOMEN UNDERGOING ICSI

Ruqaya Bashar Al-Smak*, Nawal Khairy Al-Ani** and Muayyad Sarbit***

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Abstract

Background: Trace elements show a number of biochemical and physiological functions thus affect the oocyte maturation and embryo quality, and may play a role in decreasing fecundity and fertility. Objective: To assess the effect of Copper and Magnesium concentration in serum and follicular fluid on oocyte, embryo quality and pregnancy success in women undergoing ICSI. Material and Methods: Methods: The study was conducted based on 70 patients recruited from August 2016 to February 2017 in High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies and in Kamal Al-Samarrai Hospital, center of fertility and IVF (Baghdad/Iraq). These women underwent ICSI using the GnRH-agonist long or short protocol. Out of these 70 patients, 39 had successfully conceived (pregnant group) and the other 31 failed (non- pregnant group). Follicular fluid samples were collected from these women on the oocyte retrieval day. Concentration of Cu and Mg in serum and follicular fluid samples were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). The correlations between serum and follicular fluid concentrations of Cu and Mg and the number (No.) of MII oocyte retrieved, fertilization rate and number of embryo transferred were determined. Results: In all subjects studied, the mean of serum concentrations of Cu and Mg of pregnant and non-pregnant group were (165.23 ± 3.99 and 168.412 ± 1.64 μg/dl) and (1.112 ± 0.04 and1.120 ± 0.04 μg/dl) respectively, while the mean of FF concentration of Cu and Mg were (117.00 ± 2.35 and 114.32 ± 2.67 μg/dl) and (1.562 ± 0.03 and 1.575 ± 0.04 μg/dl) respectively. However, no difference was observed in serum and follicular fluid concentrations of Cu and Mg on the oocyte retrieval day between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, for pregnant groups combined, follicular fluid concentrations of Cu and Mg were positively correlated with No. of MII oocyte retrieved (r = 0.29, P

Keywords: Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), follicular fluid (FF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryo transfer (ET)