The Faculty of Medicine

The lipid composition of the follicular fluid is associated with pregnancy outcome

Research from the laboratory of Dr. Arieh Moussaieff reveals a lipid signature of pregnancy potential in oocytes.

In collaboration with Dr. Assaf Ben Meir from the Hadassah IVF unit, the researchers found that pregnancy rates are correlated to the abundance of different lipid groups in the fluid that surrounds the oocyte and provides its microenvironment.

The study suggests that the development of the oocyte is associated with the metabolic microenvironment, and that lipids may be used as markers for pregnancy outcome.

This work is the first in a number of studies that unveil the roles of lipid metabolism in early development.