Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 39595164 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12112598
CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript): A New Identified Intrafollicular Mediator in Ovulation Induction Protocols.
Biomedicines 12(11)
Authors: Charalampos Voros, Despoina Mavrogianni, Sofoklis Stavros, Myrto Papamentzelopoulou, Evangelia Dimitroulia, Dimitrios Doumplis, Dimitris Mathiopoulos, Dimitrios Loutradis
Affiliations
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.
- 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Rimini 1, 12462 Chaidari, Greece.
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.
- Fertility Institute-Assisted Reproduction Unit, Paster 15, 11528 Athens, Greece.
- Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
This study investigates the relationship between cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) expression, leptin, and hormone profiles-specifically progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-across four distinct ovulation induction protocols (HMG, HMG/hCG, rFSH, and rFSH/hCG). It also investigates the relationship between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn polymorphisms, CART expression, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) results, with the goal of better understanding how CART and FSHR polymorphisms affect ovarian response and oocyte quality.
METHODS
Data were obtained from 94 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) as part of their IVF therapy. Hormone levels, CART expression, and FSHR polymorphisms were measured across all four ovulation induction procedures. Statistical studies were undertaken to investigate the relationships between CART expression, hormone levels, and IVF results.
RESULTS
The study found no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) amongst the four stimulation procedures (-values varied from 0.244 to 0.909). CART expression did not show a significant correlation with hormone levels throughout the whole cohort (progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, FSH, hCG, and estradiol; > 0.05). However, CART levels were adversely linked with the number of follicles > 12 mm (r = -0.251, = 0.018), total oocyte count (r = -0.247, = 0.019), and oocyte maturity (r = -0.212, = 0.048). Furthermore, there was a strong negative connection between CART expression and thyroid hormone T3 (r = -0.319, = 0.048). Among FSHR polymorphisms, the SER/SER genotype was related to greater CART levels (mean 4.198 ± 2.257) than the SER/ASN and ASN/ASN genotypes ( = 0.031).
CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that CART expression and FSHR polymorphisms may influence ovarian response and oocyte quality in IVF patients, possibly acting as biomarkers for evaluating ovarian outcomes in various ovulation induction procedures.
MeSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Cocaine, Estradiol, Leptin, Ovary, Infertility, Androstenedione, Hormones, Testosterone, Oocytes, Genotype, Progesterone, Amphetamine, Ovulation, Ovulation Induction