title: Immunoreactive endothelin-1 concentrations in follicular fluid of women with and without endometriosis undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the concentrations of immunoreactive (IR) endothelin-1 in human follicular fluid (FF) and whether IR-endothelin-1 levels are different in women with endometriosis-associated infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follicular fluid and plasma samples, obtained from women with and without endometriosis undergoing IVF-ET, were collected at the time of oocyte aspiration and analyzed for IR-endothelin-1 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility clinic in an academic research environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 90% of FF samples and 60% of plasma samples contained IR-endothelin-1 detectable above the threshold of assay sensitivity. Immunoreactive endothelin-1 levels (mean +/- SEM) in FF samples from women with and without endometriosis-associated infertility were 74 +/- 12 and 37 +/- 6 pg/mL, respectively. There was no difference in IR-endothelin-1 levels in FF samples between controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles with or without leuprolide acetate. No significant differences were detected in plasma IR-endothelin-1 levels in women with endometriosis-associated infertility when compared with those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate the presence of IR-endothelin-1 in human FF obtained at the time of oocyte aspiration for IVF-ET and higher levels of IR-endothelin-1 in FF of women with endometriosis-associated infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abaé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glassberg
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Majercik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vestal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins