Activin A and inhibin B in extra-embryonic coelomic and amniotic fluids, and maternal serum in early pregnancy.
Activin A and inhibin B levels were measured, using a two-site enzyme immunoassay, in extra-embryonic coelomic fluid, amniotic fluid and maternal serum samples retrieved from 23 healthy pregnant women, at 8 (n=8), 9 (n=8), and 10 (n=7) weeks of gestation. Dimeric activin A and inhibin B were measurable in all samples. Median (+/-SEM) activin A concentrations in coelomic fluid (0.98+/-0.34 ng/ml) were significantly higher than in maternal serum (0.68+/-0.05 ng/ml) and in amniotic fluid (0.09+/-0.04 ng/ml) (P<0.05). Maternal serum activin A levels were significantly higher than amniotic fluid concentrations. Median (+/-SEM) inhibin B concentrations in coelomic fluid (24.32+/-6.02 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in maternal serum (5.94+/-0.97 pg/ml) and in amniotic fluid (6.31+/-1.53 pg/ml) (P<0.05), while no significant difference between maternal serum levels and amniotic fluid concentrations was found. No significant difference in activin A and inhibin B levels in extra-coelomic fluid, amniotic fluid, and maternal serum throughout the 3 weeks of pregnancy was found. The present study showed that coelomic fluid is an important reservoir of activin A and inhibin B, supporting the hypothesis that the extra-embryonic coelom may have a secretory role during the first 11 weeks of gestation.
Luisi
S
S
Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Italy.
Battaglia
C
C
Florio
P
P
D'Ambrogio
G
G
Taponeco
F
F
Santuz
M
M
Genazzani
A R
AR
Petraglia
F
F
D028341:Activins; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins