title: Follicular fluid markers of oocyte developmental potential.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concentrations of certain substances in follicular fluid (FF) are related to fertilization outcome and early post-fertilization development. The study aim was to identify FF markers with which to predict embryo implantation potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of selected hormones, cytokines and growth factors in individual FF samples obtained during assisted reproduction treatment were related with treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean concentrations of LH, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), 17beta-estradiol (E2) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I were higher, and that of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was lower, in treatment attempts leading to a clinical pregnancy as compared with those in which no pregnancy was established. Concentrations of FSH, progesterone, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IGF-II were similar in successful and unsuccessful attempts. In successful attempts, LH and GH levels were higher in those follicles from which oocytes giving rise to transferred embryos (i.e. embryos with best morphology and fastest cleavage rate) originated, as compared with other follicles from which a mature oocyte was recovered but was cryopreserved for later use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FF levels of LH, GH, PRL, E2, IGF-I and IL-1 may serve to analyse cases of repeated assisted reproduction failures and to assess effects of modifications of the ovarian stimulation protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Requena
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cremades
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabeu
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tesarik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005544:Forecasting; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007375:Interleukin-1; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone