Variability in the components of high-density lipoprotein particles measured in human ovarian follicular fluid: A cross-sectional analysis

Objective To assess the variability of follicular fluid (FF) high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle components. Design Cross-sectional design with assessment using two-stage nested analysis of variance. Setting Reproductive health center. Patient(s) 180 in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Nineteen HDL components including HDL cholesterol and free (unesterified) and esterified forms, phospholipids, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1 and A-2, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities, and seven lipophilic vitamins and micronutrients. Result(s) We collected FF specimens from two contralateral follicles on the day of oocyte retrieval and analyzed them for HDL components, characterizing the analytes by age, body mass index (BMI), race and smoking. For some analytes, a majority of total measurement variability was attributed to sources between follicles, suggesting an important role for the integrity of the blood-follicle barrier and in situ remodeling of plasma-derived constituents. For other analytes, variability was mostly attributed to sources between women, likely indicative of plasma levels. Variability between follicles decreased with increasing age and differed by BMI and smoking, and generally were lower for Asians and women with diminished ovarian reserve. Conclusion(s) Substantial variability in FF HDL components exist between follicles among women undergoing IVF as well as between women by age, BMI, race, smoking, and infertility diagnosis.