Response of proopiomelanocortin and gonado- or lactotroph systems to in-vitro fertilisation procedures stress.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse for the first time the response of the corticotroph-type and the melanotroph-type pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) system with regard to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment using self-developed highly specific non-cross-reacting radioimmunoassay.


METHODS



METHODS
University hospital. patients: A total of 28 patients undergoing IVF oocyte retrieval. Cross sectional exploratory study, one factorial design with repeated measurements on one factor, non-parametric tests. Blood was collected before anaesthesia (t(A)) (n=28) and immediately after oocyte retrieval (t(B)) (n=28).


METHODS
beta-endorphin immunoreactive material (IRM), acetyl-N-beta-endorphin IRM, beta-lipotropin IRM, ACTH, cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. For determination of authentic beta-endorphin [beta-endorphin (1-31)] a highly specific two-site fluid phase immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay was developed, which did not cross-react with any beta-endorphin derivative or any other opioid peptide tested.


RESULTS
No response of acetyl-N-beta-endorphin IRM and of authentic beta-endorphin (1-31) was observed to oocyte retrieval in contrast to a significant increase of corticotroph-type proopiomelanocortin derivatives. A significant rise in prolactin plasma concentration indicates a pronounced lactotroph response to oocyte retrieval stress. No significant correlation between POMC derivates and prolactin and between POMC derivatives and gonadotropins or sexual steroids except for ACTH and progesterone and for beta-endorphin IRM and estradiol was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
IVF treatment stress led to significant corticotroph-type POMC and lactotroph responses, but not to responses of authentic beta-endorphin or melanotroph-type POMC in women undergoing oocyte retrieval.
Harbach
Heinz
H
University Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Pain Therapy, Rudolf-Buchheim-Street 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany. heinz.harbach@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
Antrecht
Kerstin
K
Boedeker
Rolf-Hasso
RH
Brenck
Florian
F
Gips
Holger
H
Hempelmann
Gunter
G
Muehling
Joerg
J
Welters
Ingeborg
I
Zygmunt
Marek
M
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D052682:Lactotrophs / Q000187:drug effects*; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000009:adverse effects; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D011388:Prolactin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone