Mass spectrometry provides insight into follicle

Scientists have used mass spectrometry and quantitative analysis to assess the follicular fluid involved in follicle development.

In a study published by Proteome Science, scientists from across France studied the components involved in follicle development in order to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved and the impact on oocyte quality.

They hypothesised that that the proteins in follicular fluid may differ from those in the serum and could also change throughout follicle development.

In order to test this theory, the scientists used quantitative analysis processes and mass spectrometry methods on follicular fluid samples were collected from ovaries at the early dominant, late dominant and preovulatory stages of follicle development.

The scientists identified 18 proteins in the crude follicular fluid and up to 113 in the enriched follicular fluid, although inhibins and other proteins involved in reproduction could only be found after enrichment of follicular fluid.

They claimed that the results can be successfully used to visualise and further identify the low-abundance proteins in the follicular fluid in future investigations.