Brain-derived neurotrophic factor from follicular fluid is positively associated with rate of mature ooocytes collected and cleavage rate in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between BDNF and oocyte maturation and to verify whether BDNF could predict in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. METHODS: The follicle fluid (FF) for BDNF, E(2) and P assay were obtained from 59 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The women were divided into two groups by pregnancy outcome and their clinical and lab data were compared. And the correlation of BDNF with E(2), P, age, and IVF data were analyzed. RESULTS: Positive correlation was observed between BDNF and E(2) concentration in FF. BDNF was positively correlated with the rate of mature oocytes collected and cleavage rate. CONCLUSIONS: The BDNF in FF could not predict IVF outcome, but BDNF in FF might play an important role in the maturation of oocyte and development of oocyte into preimplantation embryo.