Recent cadmium exposure among male partners may affect oocyte fertilization during in vitro fertilization (IVF)

Abstract

PurposeWe recently reported evidence suggesting associations between urine cadmium concentrations, reflecting long-term exposure, measured in 25 female patients (relative risk = 1.41, P = 0.412) and 15 of their male partners (relative risk = 0.19, P = 0.097) and oocyte fertilization in vitro. Blood cadmium concentrations reflect more recent exposure.MethodsWe here incorporate those measures into our prior data set and employ multivariable log-binomial regression models to generate hypotheses concerning the relative effects of long-term and recent cadmium exposure on oocyte fertilization in vitro.ResultsNo association is indicated for blood cadmium from women and oocyte fertilization, adjusted for urine cadmium and creatinine, blood lead and mercury, age, race/ethnicity and cigarette smoking (relative risk = 0.88, P = 0.828). However, we suggest an inverse adjusted association between blood cadmium from men and oocyte fertilization (relative risk = 0.66, P = 0.143).ConclusionsThese results suggest that consideration of long-term and recent exposures are both important for assessing the effect of partner cadmium levels on oocyte fertilization in vitro.

Associations between toxic metals in follicular fluid and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes

“…Our prior research suggests an increase in oocyte fertilization of 41 %-48 % in association with female urine Cd concentrations, although not of statistical significance [17,28], and not for Cd in blood [28]. A prior investigation of 619 Saudi Arabian IVF patients reported a positive yet nonsignificant association between FF Pb and oocyte fertilization (OR0 1.45, 95%CI 0.69-3.02), with a 'borderline-significant' positive association for FF Cd (OR01.87, 95%CI 0.91-3.82) in the same logistic regression model including 19 covariates [7].…”

“…Follicular fluid specimens were collected from 48 women, including 40 women with specimens from a single follicle and eight women with specimens from two follicles. Blood and urine specimens were also collected at the time of oocyte retrieval and have previously been described in detail for the overall study cohort [17,28]. Informed consent was obtained from all study participants prior to inclusion in the study.…”

“…Blood specimens were previously analyzed for Hg, Cd, and Pb, and urine specimens were previously analyzed for Cd and additional trace elements using a method optimized for a Perkin Elmer Sciex ELAN DRC II ICP-MS (PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Shelton, CT) with dynamic reaction cell (DRC) technology [17,28]. The analytic procedures for blood [30] and urine [31] specimens have been previously described in detail.…”

Hair mercury concentrations and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes among women from a fertility clinic

“…This cohort consisted of a higher proportion of women of Asian ethnicity (30%) [9] as compared to the US general population (4.8%) and our study (10%). Similarly, seafood consumption was positively associated with Hg levels within the subjects, with 84% reporting consumption of at least one seafood item in a week and the strongest association being found with “mollusks” consumption [26]. Bloom et al [6] found detectable levels of Hg in follicular fluid, however at lower levels than in blood collected from these women.…”

“…We are also not able to evaluate the influence of an acute exposure during the actual IVF stimulation cycle. Furthermore, hair Hg concentration was strongly correlated with total fish consumption per week, an important proxy for Omega-3 fatty acid intake [4, 26, 36, 37]. A recent study in the mouse model demonstrated that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids resulted in improved reproductive outcomes in older female mice (>10 months) and increased oocyte quality as measured by percent reaching the mature metaphase II stage and by mitochondrial distribution throughout the oocyte [38].…”