title: Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein-3 in the follicular fluid of women undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation with different gonadotropin preparations.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) have an important regulatory role in follicular development and oocyte maturation. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to measure the concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in follicular fluids collected from infertile women undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation using three different gonadotropin preparations. Twenty infertile women (mean age 33 years, range 28-40) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs were recruited. After a written informed consent, each woman randomly underwent a long-protocol for ovarian hyperstimulation using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-analog and one of the following recombinant- and urinary-gonadotropins--alpha-follitropin, beta-follitropin or urofollitropin. Serum 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels and follicle growth were assessed during the follicular phase. The concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in the follicular fluid of aspirated dominant follicles were measured directly. Women treated with alpha-follitropin needed significantly lower doses of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) compared to those receiving beta-follitropin (p < 0.05). No other statistically significant differences were detected between groups. Serum E2 levels increased in the three groups from early to late follicular phase. Follicular fluid IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations did not differ significantly in the three groups of women. A statistically significant relationship was observed between follicular fluid IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels (r = 0.41, p = 0.001). Oocyte maturation correlated in a positive manner with IGF-I (r = 0.34, p = 0.01) and IGFBP-3 (r = 0.29, p = 0.03). These findings show that both recombinant- and urinary-gonadotropin preparations were equally effective in releasing IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in the follicular fluid of dominant follicles, and confirmed the role of these compounds on oocyte maturation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Radiological Sciences, University of Catania, School of Medicine, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Nardo
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bellanca
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burrello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Agata
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nardo
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000652:urine; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone