Excess Weight Impairs Oocyte Quality, as Reflected by mtDNA and BMP-15.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology and endocrinology
• Metabolic and bariatric medicine

Background:

• Obesity is a growing concern affecting reproductive health.
• Oocyte quality is crucial for successful fertilization and pregnancy outcomes.
• Biomarkers like mtDNA, BMP-15, and HSPG2 may indicate oocyte health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of obesity on oocyte quality markers.
• To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and specific biomarkers in follicular fluid and cumulus cells.

Main Methods:

• Prospective case-control study involving women aged 18 to <40 years.
• Division into two groups based on BMI: <24.9 (control) and >25 (obese).
• Evaluation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) expression in cumulus cells (CC), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15), heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2), lipid profiles, hormonal profiles, and C-reactive protein in follicular fluid (FF) and blood.

Main Results:

• Obese women (Group 2) had significantly lower BMP-15 levels in FF and reduced mtDNA expression in CC compared to normal-weight women (Group 1).
• Higher levels of C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein were observed in obese women.
• Normal-weight women exhibited higher high-density lipoprotein levels in both blood and FF.

Conclusions:

• Higher BMI is associated with diminished oocyte quality, evidenced by decreased BMP-15 and mtDNA expression.
• Obesity may negatively influence reproductive potential through these molecular changes.
• Further research is warranted to explore therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways.