title: Immunoreactive epidermal growth factor concentrations in follicular fluid obtained from in vitro fertilization.
abstract: Immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) was measured in follicular fluid (FF) obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization from cycles with (91 follicles) and without (128 follicles) the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist leuprolide acetate (LA). Follicular fluid immunoreactive EGF levels in the non-LA cycles correlated with androstenedione but not estradiol or progesterone levels from follicles with prophase I oocytes or from all follicles taken together, but not from metaphase I or metaphase II oocyte containing follicles alone. In non-LA cycles, FF immunoreactive EGF levels were lower in follicles that contained metaphase I or II oocytes than prophase I oocytes. Additionally, FF immunoreactive EGF levels were lower in follicles containing metaphase I or II oocytes from non-LA than LA cycles. We conclude that immunoreactive EGF is present in FF. Leuprolide acetate may affect FF immunoreactive EGF levels.
authors.affiliation: Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Brzyski
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D016729:Leuprolide; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D016729:Leuprolide