title: Human follicular fluid maturity and endothelial cell mitogenesis.
abstract: Follicular fluid, of varying maturity, (day 5-16 of cycle) was collected from the largest Graafian follicle of each of 22 ovulatory patients during laparoscopic procedures. Three samples were blood-stained and discarded. The mitogenic potential of each sample was determined using bovine aortic endothelial cells in the CellTiter 96 Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation/Cytotoxicity Assay system. Intra- and inter-plate coefficients of variation were < 9%. The follicular fluid samples induced cell doubling times which varied from approximately 12-24 h and final cell numbers which, in the individual wells, ranged from 7828-30,900 (starting number 2000/well). Follicular fluid total protein content was unrelated to the mitogenic potential, (R2 = 0%). Serum oestradiol was negatively correlated with the mitogenic potential (R2 = 26%). No correlation was found with day of the menstrual cycle (R2 = 4.3%), maximum follicular diameter (R2 = 1.8%), or serum concentration of progesterone (R2 = 0.7%), luteinizing hormone (LH) (R2 = 1.5%) or follicle stimulating hormone (R2 = 0.1%). Five subjects were in 'early' and six in 'mid'-follicular phase, six were in 'early' and two in 'late' LH surge. There was no difference in the mitogenic response between these four groups by one-way analysis of variance (F = 0.21; P = 0.89). It is concluded that the mitogenic potential of human follicular fluid is not related to Graafian follicle maturity or, more particularly, to the LH surge.
authors.affiliation: Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust, The Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abberton
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone