title: Relationships between concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide in follicular fluid and oocyte quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to explain a relationship between concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) in follicular fluid, oocyte quality, and outcomes of in vitro fertilization--embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of TNF-alpha and NO were measured in 115 follicular fluid samples collected from 43 patients undergoing IVF-ET program, due to tubal obstruction, some with endometriosis (8 patients) or hydrosalpinx (5 patients). A correlation of these factors concentrations and the oocyte quality, the oocyte maturity, and infertility-associated diseases was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No correlation was found between concentrations of NO and TNF-alpha in follicular fluid. NO concentrations in follicular fluids were significantly higher in patients with endometriosis (P < 0.001) or hydrosalpinx (P < 0.01) compared to the patients with just tubal obstruction. Follicular NO concentration differences according to oocyte maturity and oocyte quality were not found. In contrast, TNF-alpha concentrations in follicular fluids were significantly higher in poor quality oocytes (P < 0.05) but were not associated with infertility-associated diseases, such as hydrosalphinx or endometriosis,and the oocyte maturity. No significant differences in follicular levels of NO and TNF-alpha as well as IVF-ET parameters of pregnant and nonpregnant groups were revealed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant correlation between the concentrations of NO and TNF-alpha in follicular fluid. NO levels in follicular fluid are altered in infertility-associated diseases. However, TNF-alpha levels but not NO levels influence oocyte quality. These results suggest that the production of NO and TNF-alpha in follicular fluid may be regulated via different pathways and can be tempered with infertility-associated diseases, thereby influencing oocyte quality locally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide