title: Soluble CD44 in human ovarian follicular fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigated the existence of soluble CD44 (sCD44) in human follicular fluid, the relationship between the concentration of sCD44 and that of other hormonal parameters, and the prognostic value of sCD44 in follicular fluid in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 63 follicular fluid specimens from patients (n = 30) participating in our IVF programs was analyzed by RIA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean concentration (+/- SE) of sCD44 in follicular fluid was 265.4 +/- 7.8 ng/ml. The variation of the follicular fluid concentration of sCD44 was strictly associated with that of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (r = 0.572, P < 0.0001). The mean concentration of sCD44 in follicular fluid was significantly higher in follicles containing subsequently unfertilized oocytes than that in those containing oocytes that had undergone fertilization (P = 0.0428). In the analysis of each follicle that contained an oocyte subsequently fertilized, the mean concentration of sCD44 was significantly higher in follicular fluid with the subsequently good-quality embryos than in that with the subsequently poor-quality embryos (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that the concentration of sCD44 in follicular fluid reflects the development of embryos derived from the same follicle, so the sCD44 in human follicular fluid may be useful in the assessment of the prognostic value of IVF programs.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata City 990-9585, Japan. nohta@omn.ne.jp
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ohta
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Saito
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kaneko
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Yoshida
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Takahashi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Saito
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nakahara
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hiroi
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012995:Solubility; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol