Efficacy of ER-alpha polymorphisms and the intrafollicular IGF system for predicting pregnancy in IVF-ET patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacies of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) gene polymorphisms and of the intrafollicular insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system for predicting pregnancy in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients.


METHODS
A total of 96 patients undergoing IVF-ET were included in this study. Genotyping for the ER-alpha gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms was performed using polymerase-chain reaction and single base extension method. Follicular fluid (FF) IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured by RIA, and IGFBP-4 by ELISA. We compared, between pregnant (n = 28) and non-pregnant groups (n = 68), the allele frequency, genotype distribution and haplotype distribution of PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms, and then FF IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4 concentrations and their ratios.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of allele, genotype or haplotype distributions of the ER-alpha gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms between the two groups. The mean FF IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio was significantly higher in the pregnant group (5.9 +/- 1.5 vs. 4.8 +/- 1.5 x 10(-2)).


CONCLUSIONS
The intrafollicular IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio of the FF of the dominant follicle during oocyte retrieval appears to be related to the establishment of pregnancy in IVF-ET patients, whereas the ER-alpha gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms do not.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young Sik
YS
Choi
Seok Hyun
SH
Kim
Seung-Yup
SY
Ku
Byung Chul
BC
Jee
Chang Suk
CS
Suh
Young Min
YM
Choi
Jung Gu
JG
Kim
Shin Yong
SY
Moon
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011336:Probability; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II