title: [Concentration gradient of cotinine between blood serum and preovulatory follicular fluid].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the blood serum/follicular fluid gradient for cotinine levels in the IVF patients with different levels of the tobacco smoke exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cotinine levels were measured by means of the double antibody RIA in blood serum (S) and preovulatory follicular fluid (FF) of 45 IVF patients undergoing standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Self reported smoking status was used for grouping purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (range) cotinine concentrations (in ng/ml) in follicular fluid of nonsmokers (n = 10), passive smokers (n = 25) and active smokers (n = 10) were 3.71 (1.20-15.62), 29.65 (20.91-45.75) and 285.69 (62.21-595.00), respectively. The differences were highly significant (p < 0.001). No significant gradient of cotinine concentrations was found between blood serum and follicular fluid. Cotinine levels in serum and follicular fluid were strongly correlated (rs = 0.892; p < 0.001). The S/FF ratio for cotinine levels did not depend on the follicle's size or serum cotinine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cotinine easily crosses the blood/follicle barrier.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Ginekologii II Katedry Połoznictwa i Chorób Kobiecych Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paszkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis*; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003367:Cotinine