Light Microscopy and Proteomic Patterns of Ovulation in Cervical Mucus
Yolanda Fernandez-Hermida1, Federica Vincenzoni2,3, Domenico Milardi4,5
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Internacional University of Catalonia, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallés, Spain.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 11, 2022
Summary
Identifying ovulation is key for conception. Cervical mucus (CM) proteins show promise as biomarkers for accurately predicting the fertile window, aiding family planning.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Proteomics
- Biomarker discovery
Background:
- Couples increasingly seek to identify the fertile window for conception.
- Current methods for predicting ovulation and the fertile window lack reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cervical mucus (CM) proteins as potential biomarkers for precise ovulation prediction.
- To analyze in vivo changes in CM protein composition throughout the menstrual cycle.
Main Methods:
- Cervical mucus (CM) samples collected from women of reproductive age.
- Analysis of CM samples using light microscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
- Bioinformatic analysis to determine changes in CM protein composition.
Main Results:
- CM exhibited cyclical changes in biophysical composition, observed via microscopy.
- Proteomic analysis revealed dynamic alterations in CM protein composition during the cycle.
- Twenty-five of forty-eight identified proteins emerged as potential ovulation biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Cervical mucus (CM) protein composition changes cyclically, offering potential for ovulation prediction.
- Identified proteins may serve as reliable biomarkers for early and precise fertile window identification.
- CM composition changes may facilitate sperm entry during the fertile period.
