title: Diminished alpha-inhibin messenger ribonucleic acid in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer poor responders reflects declining follicle reserve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantitate and compare granulosa cell alpha-inhibin messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in IVF-ET poor and good responders and thereby learn how alpha-inhibin mRNA levels change in states of diminished ovarian responsiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ribonucleic acid analysis of stored luteinized granulosa cell samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary care institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three women undergoing follicle aspiration for IVF-ET were studied. Patients were classified as poor responders (n = 16) or good responders (n = 37) according to their E2 concentration on the day of hCG; the E2 of poor responders was < 1,000 pg/mL (3,671 pmol/L) and that of good responders was > or = 1,000 pg/mL (3,671 pmol/L).
  
  
  METHODS
  Messenger RNA levels were measured using dot blot RNA analysis. The following parameters were determined or derived: total mRNA levels, total alpha-inhibin mRNA levels, alpha-inhibin mRNA per follicle, and proportional alpha-inhibin mRNA as the ratio of alpha-inhibin mRNA:total mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proportional alpha-inhibin mRNA and alpha-inhibin mRNA per follicle were not significantly different between poor responders and good responders. Total mRNA and total alpha-inhibin mRNA levels, however, were diminished significantly in poor responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observations that proportional alpha-inhibin mRNA and alpha-inhibin mRNA per follicle do not significantly change in poor responders, whereas total alpha-inhibin mRNA does, indicate that the decrease in total alpha-inhibin mRNA in poor responders reflects a decreased pool of total mRNA, likely because of a reduction in follicle number. These findings are in contrast to other recent reports that describe a change in granulosa cell function accompanying states of decreased ovarian responsiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7836, USA.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Oktay
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rao Tekmal
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schenken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D007265:Inhibins