Abstract
Concentrations of inhibin, total and free oestradiol and progesterone were determined in preovulatory follicular fluid from 15 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment. The women underwent ovarian stimulation using clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) (69 follicular fluid samples) in one cycle, and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and HMG stimulation in the next treatment cycle (64 follicular fluid samples). The women thereby served as their own control. Inhibin, total oestradiol and progesterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of free steroid were calculated after quantitation of the steroid binding proteins, i.e. sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol binding protein (CBP) and albumin. Levels of inhibin and free and total progesterone were significantly higher in follicular fluids collected after stimulation with the GnRHa compared to the clomiphene regime (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.001, P less than 0.001, respectively). In contrast, levels of total and free oestradiol in follicular fluid were significantly lower after stimulation with GnRHa than after clomiphene stimulation (P less than 0.001). These results indicate that the follicles have achieved a more optimal maturation during the GnRHa regimen than during the clomiphene regime. It is suggested that the concentration of free biologically active steroids in follicular fluid, released into the peritoneal cavity during ovulation, may be physiologically important in stimulating the oviduct and the uterus in connection with ovulation, pre-embryo development and implantation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Similar Papers
More From: Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.