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 activinAconcentrations,oocyte retrieval,and fertility outcome. Result(s):Inhibin A,inhibin B,and activin Aconcentrations 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.
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