title: Ovarian 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity is inversely related to the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship of ovarian 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) activity to the outcome of IVF-ET and to establish whether 11 beta-HSD activities vary for a given patient between consecutive treatment cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective correlation analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated and ovarian 11 beta-HSD activities were measured at independent fertility and biochemistry departments, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random series of 137 women undergoing a total of 172 treatment cycles for IVF-ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subcutaneous buserelin acetate plus IM hMG and hCG for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation; blood samples were collected for plasma LH and steroid determinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence or absence of detectable ovarian 11 beta-HSD activity, oocyte fertilization rates, and the identification of clinical pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 101 cycles associated with 11 beta-HSD positive granulosa-lutein cells resulted in clinical pregnancies, whereas the pregnancy rate for the 71 patients with undetectable ovarian 11 beta-HSD activity was 63.4% per cycle. The incidence of total fertilization failure was lower and the median oocyte fertilization rate was higher in cycles characterized by 11 beta-HSD-negative cells. Plasma concentrations of LH and E2 were higher in cycles yielding 11 beta-HSD-negative cells, whereas plasma P, patient age, and the number of oocytes retrieved did not relate to ovarian 11 beta-HSD activity. For the 35 patients studied in repeat cycles, ovarian 11 beta-HSD activities did not relate to those in the initial cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ovarian 11 beta-HSD activity is associated with failure to conceive by IVF-ET. For a given patient, ovarian 11 beta-HSD activity varies between consecutive treatment cycles. Hence, ovarian 11 beta-HSD activities may predict the outcome of this assisted reproduction protocol independently in each treatment cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Piercy
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002064:Buserelin