The concentrations of visfatin in the follicular fluids of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation are correlated to the number of oocytes retrieved.
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.
Shen
Ching-Ju
CJ
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.
Tsai
Eing-Mei
EM
Lee
Jau-Nan
JN
Chen
Yi-Ling
YL
Lee
Chien-Hung
CH
Chan
Te-Fu
TF
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
D016207:Cytokines; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human