title: Serum and follicular fluid insulin like growth factors I and II during growth hormone co-treatment for in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wished to assess the changes in serum IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations during gonadotrophin treatment alone or with additional GH treatment and to compare follicular fluid IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations in the two treatment groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an open study of co-treatment with GH and subsequently a randomized double blind comparison of addition of placebo or GH to clomiphene citrate and gonadotrophins.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied previously poor responders to superovulation regimens for in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, six women in an open study, four of whom had ultrasound diagnosed polycystic ovaries, and 17 women in a double blind study, 12 of whom had polycystic ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations throughout treatment cycles. Follicular fluid concentrations were measured at the time of oocyte recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither serum IGF-I nor IGF-II concentrations were altered by gonadotrophin treatment alone. However, co-treatment with GH led to a significant rise in serum IGF-I concentrations in women with ultrasound diagnosed polycystic ovaries. Concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-II in follicular fluid were lower than in serum, although follicular fluid IGF-I concentrations were higher in women receiving GH than in those receiving placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor responders to superovulation regimens may have an abnormality of growth factor response. GH co-treatment leads to an increase in circulating IGF-I concentrations in women with polycystic ovaries but our results do not support the hypothesis that GH stimulates IGF-I production in the human ovary.
authors.affiliation: Cobbold Laboratories, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torresani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D013006:Growth Hormone