title: The concentrations of visfatin in the follicular fluids of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation are correlated to the number of oocytes retrieved.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the concentrations of visfatin in the plasma with those in follicular fluid of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and to discover their correlation to the number of oocytes retrieved. Further, to examine whether FSH or hCG affects the expression of visfatin and whether visfatin affects COX-2 expression in cultured granulosa luteal (GL) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical and in vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women subjected to IVF procedures were enrolled in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma and follicular fluid visfatin levels were analyzed using ELISA. HCG, FSH, PGE2 and visfatin were added to cultured GL cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enzyme immunoassay and RT-PCR were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between follicular fluid and plasma visfatin levels (r = 0.443). The number of oocytes retrieved was significantly correlated to follicular visfatin levels in multiple linear regression analysis (r = 0.891, r(2) = 0.794). In vitro experiments on GL cells revealed that hCG and PGE(2) considerably increased visfatin mRNA expression. FSH did not affect visfatin mRNA expression. Treatment with visfatin caused an induction of COX-2 mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The follicular fluid visfatin concentrations are correlated to the number of oocytes retrieved. Human GL cells produce visfatin, and visfatin synthesis is increased by hCG and PGE2 treatment. Visfatin can induce expression of COX-2 mRNA in GL cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Eing-Mei
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jau-Nan
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yi-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Te-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human