Metabolomics in Reproductive Medicine: General Principles and Applications to the Study of Gametes,Embryos and Follicular Fluid

Abstract

After more than 30 years following the birth of Louise Brown, the field of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) is still burdened by low pregnancy rates and relatively high multiple pregnancy rates. Embryo selection is still based on morphological criteria and any new technologies that would increase the ability to identify the most viable gametes and embryos would certainly improve ART outcome. Metabolomic profiling of both gametes and embryos appears to be highly promising to achieve this goal. The review will focus on the several applications of metabolomics in ART, where this quantitative, non-invasive, rapid approach could result in the generation of metabolite markers with high clinical impact. Nevertheless, extensive validation studies are needed before embryo screening tests based on metabolomic profiling become available for clinical use.