Follicular fluid and serum levels of inhibin A and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A in patients undergoing IVF.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate transport of intrafollicular proteins Inhibin A and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) across the follicular fluid (FF)/blood barrier.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
IVF lab at a university hospital, academic, and industrial research labs.


METHODS
Fifty-five women undertook the IVF program.


METHODS
Follicular fluid aspirations and analysis, blood sample drawing, and serum analysis.


METHODS
Concentrations of Inhibin A, PAPP-A, and major serum proteins in FF and serum, total amount of PAPP-A, and Inhibin A in FF.


RESULTS
The FF/blood barrier permeability was calibrated using major serum proteins. The FF/serum ratio decreased with the molecular mass of proteins, and their FF and serum concentrations were well correlated. In contrast, concentrations of Inhibin A in paired serum and FF samples showed a weak correlation (r = 0.563), whereas serum and FF concentrations of PAPP-A were independent of each other. The total amount of Inhibin A in FF correlated well with concentrations of Inhibin A in paired serum samples (r = 0.858), whereas the correlation between the total amount of FF PAPP-A and PAPP-A serum concentrations remains poor (r = 0.215).


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that at the day of oocyte retrieval, FF is a major source of serum Inhibin A but not of serum PAPP-A.
Moos
Jiri
J
Immunotech as, Prague, Czech Republic.
Filova
Vanda
V
Pavelkova
Jana
J
Moosova
Martina
M
Peknicova
Jana
J
Rezabek
Karel
K
D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A