The relationship between GDF-9 and BMP-15 serum and follicular fluid and the quality of oocytes in women who undergo an IVF cycle

Objective: The quality of the embryo is greatly influenced by the quality of the oocytes; oocyte-secreted factors (OSFs), which include GDF-9 and BMP-15, play an important role in folliculogenesis. This study was to determine the relationship between GDF-9 and BMP-15 serum within the follicular fluid in order to predict the quality of oocytes in women undergoing In vitro Fertilization (IVF). Methods: We collected 30 samples of blood serum and 30 samples of follicular fluid on the day of ovum pickup (OPU), and examined GDF-9 and BMP-15 using ELISA kits. Analysis by Pearson and a partial-correlation was conducted to analyze the correlation between the concentration of GDF- 9 and BMP-15 in serum and follicular fluid with general physiological parameters, such as maturation and fertilization rates. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 35,0(26,0-39,0) years. There was no statistical correlation between GDF-9 serum and follicular fluid (p=0.245); but there was a correlation between BMP-15 serum and follicular fluid (p=0.001). Average level of GDF-9 in the follicular fluid was 163,0 pg/ml (48,0-537), and average level in the serum was 260.33 pg/ml±121,82; average levels of BMP-15 in the follicular fluid was 58.30pg/ml±31,54 and average levels of BMP-15 in the serum was 74.20 pg/ml (1,0-610). Conclusion: There were no correlations between levels of GDF-9 serum-FF and BMP-15-FF, and maturation rates and fertilization rates. There was a negative correlation between BMP-15 serum and maturation rates.