BACKGROUND The study aim was to analyse the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing recombinant FSH and urinary-derived FSH gonadotrophins [hMG, urinary purified FSH (FSH-P) and highly purified FSH (FSH-HP)] in an IVF/ICSI programme. METHODS All published truly RCTs using a long protocol of GnRH agonists for down-regulation, were reviewed. Data of pregnancy rate per started c...

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the FSH receptor contribute to tumor angiogenesis and are acknowledged risk factors for ovarian epithelial cancer (OEC). Accumulating evidence suggests that FSH can induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) expression. We previously demonstrated that FSH induces ...

Defining the gonadal effects of FSH distinct from those of LH remains difficult. We have characterized and compared the level of Sertoli and germ cell development in three mouse models recently created to isolate FSH activity from LH effects. Two models used LH-deficient hypogonadal (hpg) mice to selectively study either pituitary-independent transgenic (tg) FSH or ligand-independent activated ...

BACKGROUND The alpha and beta subunits of FSH were fused to the Fc domain of IgG1 either in a single chain or a heterodimer format. These molecules were absorbed through the epithelium in lung and intestine by neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated transcytosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Single chain and heterodimer FSH-Fc were made recombinantly in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Treatment of rats with...

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the organism together with LH is responsible for follicular growth and maturation of eggs. If the ovaries are not working, FSH levels rise. The most common reason for high serum FSH concentration is in a female who is undergoing or has recently undergone menopause. High levels of follicle-stimulating hormone indicate that the normal restricting feedback fro...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess whether, even within a normal FSH range (< or =10 mU/ml), age-specific FSH levels are predictive of ovarian reserve. METHODS Between January 1998 and December 2001, 535 women, undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation with 225 IU of recombinant (rec) FSH and 75 IU of recLH, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Criteria for enrolm...

Anovulation is a common cause of female subfertility. Treatment of anovulation is aimed at induction of ovulation. In women with clomiphene-citrate resistant WHO group II anovulation, one of the treatment options is ovulation induction with exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH or follitropin). FSH is derived from urine or is produced as recombinant FSH. Two forms of recombinant FSH are a...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted from the pituitary gland to regulate reproduction in vertebrates. FSH signals through a G-protein coupled receptor (FSHR) on the target cell surface. We describe here the strategy to produce a soluble FSH-FSHR complex that involves the co-secretion of a truncated FSHR ectodomain (FSHR(HB)) and a covalently linked FSHalphabeta heterodimer from bacul...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare IVF outcomes of patients within different age categories who had a normal basal FSH level with outcomes of patients with an elevated day 3 FSH level. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Large, private IVF center. PATIENT(S) We analyzed 2,708 patients. Of these, 2,477 had normal basal FSH levels, and 231 had elevated basal FSH levels (> or =13.03 IU/L)....

Most of the information concerning secretion changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in humans has been gained with relatively insensitive bioassays of concentrates of pools of urine. We have developed a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for FSH that is 500-1000 times more sensitive than the rat ovarianweight augmentation assay and which is capable of quantifying FSH in small volume...