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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
06:47
Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation
Published on: January 28, 2021
High-density lipoprotein metabolism and the human embryo
Victor Y Fujimoto1, John P Kane, Brian Y Ishida
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115-0916, USA. fujimotov@obgyn.ucsf.edu
Human Reproduction Update
|August 25, 2009
Summary
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a crucial role in fertility and oocyte development. Maintaining intra-follicular cholesterol balance via HDL is vital for successful embryo development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Endocrinology
- Lipid metabolism
Background:
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the primary lipoprotein in human follicular fluid.
- HDL's anti-atherogenic properties are linked to reverse cholesterol transport.
- Key proteins like SR-BI and ABCA1 are involved in HDL metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on HDL metabolism and its impact on mammalian fertility and oocyte development.
- To explore the proposed hepatic-ovarian HDL-associated axis of fertility.
- To understand HDL's role in intra-follicular cholesterol homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an extensive literature search of PubMed/Medline.
- Included relevant English-language articles without a publication time frame.
- Cited cardiovascular literature for HDL metabolism insights.
Main Results:
- Vertebrate models show HDL influences embryo development and fertility.
- Follicular fluid HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI levels negatively correlated with embryo fragmentation.
- Paraoxonase 1 arylesterase activity in HDL positively correlated with embryo cell cleavage rate.
Conclusions:
- HDL is essential for intra-follicular cholesterol homeostasis.
- This homeostasis is critical for successful oocyte and embryo development.
- HDL metabolism significantly impacts reproductive outcomes.
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