Ammonia concentration in human preovulatory ovarian follicles.
OBJECTIVE
To determine ammonia concentrations in both the direct environment of the oocyte, ovarian follicular fluid, and peripheral blood.


METHODS
Samples of preovulatory follicular fluid and antecubital venous blood were obtained from 23 randomly selected women attending an in vitro fertilization program in an academic department. Ammonia concentrations were measured using the indophenol method.


RESULTS
In every patient examined, the ratio of ammonia concentration in follicular fluid to that in blood exceeded 1.0. Mean ammonia concentration in follicular fluid (38.01+/-2.61 microM) was significantly higher than that in blood (22.70+/-1.35 microM; P<0.001 paired Student's t test).


CONCLUSIONS
There is an ammonia gradient from follicular fluid to blood. The human preovulatory oocyte grows in an environment of a moderately increased ammonia concentration. This study suggests that the preovulatory follicle is a source of ammonia production.
Józwik
M
M
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Białystok Medical University, Skłodowskiej-Curie 24 A, 15-276, Białystok, Poland. jozwik@obgyn.edu.pl
Józwik
M
M
Wołczyński
S
S
Jóźwik
M
M
Szamatowicz
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000097:blood; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006493:Heparin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010060:Ovulation
D000925:Anticoagulants; D000641:Ammonia; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid