IVF Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about IVF, including details on in vitro fertilization, infertility, treatment, procedure, pregnancy, success rates. | ||||||||
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Follicular fluid levels of inhibin A, inhibin B, and activin A levels reflect changes in follicle size but are not independent markers of the oocyte's ability to fertilize.Wen X, Tozer AJ, Butler SA, Bell CM, Docherty SM, Iles RK Institute of Social and Health Research, School of Health and Social Science, Middlesex University, Enfield, United Kingdom. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biochemical relationship between follicular/oocyte maturity and follicular inhibins and activin levels. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Research laboratory in university hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty-five women undertook IVF/ICSI program. INTERVENTION(S): Individual follicular fluid aspirations, oocyte isolation, follicular fluid storage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Inhibin A, inhibin B, and activin A concentrations, oocyte retrieval, and fertility outcome. RESULT(S): Inhibin A, inhibin B, and activin A concentrations varied from 7.9 to 436 ng/mL, 9.7 to 786 ng/mL, and 1.7 to 267.9 ng/mL, respectively. There was no change of inhibin A concentrations, whereas inhibin B and activin A concentrations dropped dramatically as the follicles enlarged. Total follicular content of inhibin A and activin A increased, and inhibin B remained constant. Both inhibin A and inhibin B levels were significantly higher in those follicles from which an oocyte could be recovered, but they did not differ with respect to subsequent oocyte fertilization. CONCLUSION(S): Inhibin A is actively produced throughout follicular growth to retain a set concentration. In contrast, inhibin B appears not to be actively produced, and the concentration drops as follicles enlarge. Activin A concentrations also decrease, but there is some extra synthesis. Higher levels of inhibin A and B are associated with oocyte presence but not with fertilization rates. Published 8 June 2006 in Fertil Steril, 85(6): 1723-9.
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