Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone versus gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist/recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone on follicular fluid levels of adhesion molecules during in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of GnRH-agonist/recombinant rFSH versus GnRH-antagonist/recombinant FSH stimulation on follicular fluid levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) during in vitro fertilization (IVF).


METHODS
Prospective, randomized study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Seventy-three women underwent IVF.


METHODS
GnRH-agonist/rFSH or GnRH-antagonist/rFSH administration and collection of follicular fluid from 3 small (11-14 mm in diameter) and 3 large (18-21 mm in diameter) follicles on the day of oocyte retrieval.


METHODS
Follicular fluid levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and intrafollicular estradiol and progesterone were also measured.


RESULTS
Women who underwent GnRH-agonist/rFSH showed higher concentrations of sICAM-1 in both small and large follicles were compared with patients who received GnRH-antagonist/rFSH treatment; follicular fluid levels of sVCAM-1 were similar between the 2 stimulation protocols. Content of sICAM-1 in small and large follicles positively correlated with the number of follicles of > or =15 mm and the number of oocytes that were retrieved in both study groups. Concentrations of follicular fluid sVCAM-1 and progesterone were higher in large than in small follicles and were correlated positively to each other in both follicular classes.


CONCLUSIONS
In IVF, GnRH-agonist/rFSH is associated with higher follicular fluid levels of sICAM-1 compared with GnRH-antagonist/rFSH regimen. Intrafollicular sICAM-1 content may predict ovarian response, and sVCAM-1 appears as an indicator of the degree of follicular luteinization.
Fornaro
Felice
F
Dipartimento di Scienze Ginecologiche, Ostetriche e della Riproduzione, Naples, Italy.
Cobellis
Luigi
L
Mele
Daniela
D
Tassou
Argyrò
A
Badolati
Barbara
B
Sorrentino
Simona
S
De Lucia
Domenico
D
Colacurci
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004338:Drug Combinations; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone