The levels of steroid hormones and cytokines in individual follicles are not associated with the fertilization outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between the levels of two steroid hormones and eight cytokines in fluids from individual follicles and the fertilization outcome of the oocytes derived from the same follicles.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Forty-three women participating in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)/ET cycles.


METHODS
The ovarian stimulation followed the multidose GnRH antagonist protocol. ICSI was performed in mature oocytes. The concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL) -1beta, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, leptin, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I were measured by immunoassay methods in the follicles from which the mature oocytes were derived.


METHODS
The concentrations of the above hormones and cytokines in individual follicles and the fertilization outcome of the oocytes derived from the same follicles.


RESULTS
The intrafollicular concentrations of the above factors were not significantly associated with the fertilization outcome. These factors were not correlated with embryo quality, with the exception of leptin, which was weakly associated with embryo score (R = 0.276).


CONCLUSIONS
The intrafollicular concentrations of the above factors cannot predict the fertilization outcome after ICSI.
Asimakopoulos
Byron
B
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Abu-Hassan
Deena
D
Metzen
Eric
E
Al-Hasani
Safaa
S
Diedrich
Klaus
K
Nikolettos
Nikos
N
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones