title: Brain derived neurotrophic factor circulating levels in patients undergoing IVF.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to measure circulating BDNF levels, a neurotrophin recently identified in the ovary, in parallel with estradiol, to verify if assessing this factor could add any predictive value to the outcome of in vitro fertilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood sampling for BDNF and estradiol was performed in 23 subjects undergoing IVF on day 1 (D1), day 8 (D8), day of HCG administration (DHCG) and day of oocyte retrieval.(DOR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive correlation between BDNF and estradiol throughout the stimulation cycle in all subjects. In both pregnant and nonpregnant patients, the values of BDNF grew significantly only between D8 and DHCG and remained constant until DOR. Between-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences in both BDNF and estradiol values throughout the IVF cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although BDNF plasma concentrations are not seemingly predictive of IVF outcome, this neurotrophin is highly correlated to estradiol levels and seems to be an important factor especially in the periovulatory period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy. patrizia.monteleone@gmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Artini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cela
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casarosa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begliuomini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ninni
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pluchino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004958:Estradiol