In order to investigate potential changes in insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) during human follicle maturation, we examined the IGFBP profiles in follicular fluid from follicles in different stages of maturation. Samples were obtained from ovaries of women with regular menstrual cycles and of subjects with cycle abnormalities and polycystic ovaries (diagnosed as polycystic o...

Background: Recent studies have revealed that adiponectin, a novel adipocytokine, and its two receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) are involved in regulation of ovarian function in various farm animal species. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression pattern of Adiponectin and its receptors in ovarian cells of dominant (DFs) and non- dominant follicles (NDFs) in the bovine. Mater...

The follicular fluid environment surrounding the oocytes may play a critical role in fertilization and subsequent embryo development. The goal of our study was to evaluate the oxidative stress markers in the semen, blood serum, and follicular fluid of couples undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Two hundred and eight infertile couples underwent ICSI and the levels of superoxide d...

Maternal heat stress reduces oocyte competence for fertilization and post-fertilization development, but the mechanism is unknown. The present experiment investigated two potential mechanisms: (1) reduced oxygen delivery to the preovulatory follicle (due to increased thermoregulatory vascular perfusion of skin and respiratory tract); (2) reduced follicular steroid synthesis. These hypotheses we...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility often responsive to treatment with oral ovulation induction agents. PCOS patients are typically characterized by producing an increased number of oocytes that they are often of poor quality, leading to lower fertilization, cleavage and implantation rates. Recently data involve functional associations between endocrine...

BACKGROUND Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication of ovarian stimulation with massive ascites, pleural effusion and hemoconcentration. The pathophysiological signal mechanisms of OHSS are still unclear and merit further investigation. METHODS Various angiogenic cytokines of follicular fluid and ascites of patients with risk of OHSS were measured, and examined for i...

We have analysed the content of the growth and differentiation regulating peptide, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), in follicular fluid from patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and correlated concentrations of TGFbeta1 with the outcome of the IVF treatment and the concentrations of 17beta oestradiol in serum at ovum retrieval. A total of 88 women with infertility of >3...

We assessed exposure to dioxin-like compounds using chemical and bioassay analysis in different matrices in a female population. A total of 106 serum and 9 follicular fluid samples were collected from infertile women attending Centers for Reproductive Medicine in Belgium from 1996 to 1998. Major polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were quantified by chemical analysis using gas chromatograp...

Cytokines are important regulators of reproductive functions. Significant amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been detected in the serum and ascites of patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). These findings suggest the involvement of IL-6 as a mediator in the pathogenesis of OHSS. This study was performed to analyse IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6-R) expression in human granulosa ...

The major functions of granulosa cells (GCs) include the production of steroids, as well as a myriad of growth factors to interact with the oocyte during its development within the ovarian follicle. Also FSH stimulates GCs to convert androgens (coming from the thecal cells) to estradiol by aromatase. However, after ovulation the GCs produce progesterone that may maintain a potential pregnancy. ...