Presence and possible function of activin-like substance in human follicular fluid.
We assessed the presence of an activin-like substance in human follicular fluid that was obtained from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization using a bioassay for activin A. Activin activity was not detected in crude follicular fluids; the bioactivity of standard activin A was inhibited by the addition of follicular fluid. After the follistatin (binding protein of activin A) was removed from follicular fluid using a purification procedure, activin activity was detected in the follicular fluids (mean concentration: 131 +/- 40 ng/ml). Activin activity was inhibited by the addition of follistatin to fluid. The concentration of activin activity was substantially higher (approximately 100-fold) than that reported in serum. The concentration negatively and significantly correlated with the number of developed follicles in the ovary (r = 0.501, P < 0.01). These results suggest that activin A and its binding protein are present in follicular fluid in large amounts and that they may have a role in local ovarian regulation.
Sadatsuki
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Tsutsumi
O
O
Sakai
R
R
Eto
Y
Y
Hayashi
N
N
Taketani
Y
Y
D028341:Activins; D001681:Biological Assay; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology
D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins