Association of serum and follicular fluid SHBG levels and SHBG (TAAAA)n polymorphism with follicle size in women undergoing ovarian stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is the main transport protein of sex steroids. Recently, it has been found to be produced by granulosa lutein cells, suggesting a local role of SHBG in the ovary. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum and follicular fluid SHBG levels and SHBG (TAAAA)(n) polymorphism are related to follicle size and pregnancy rate in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 154 women with tubal and/or male-factor infertility undergoing IVF/ICSI and follicular fluid with oocytes from small (diameter ≤12 mm) and large (diameter ≥18 mm) follicles were studied. Genotyping of SHBG (TAAAA)(n) polymorphism was performed in peripheral blood samples. Serum and follicular fluids were used for hormones determination.


RESULTS
Women with short allele genotypes (with less than 8 TAAAA repeats) had higher number of small follicles compared to women with long allele genotypes (5.6 ± 3.9 vs. 3.5 ± 3.2 small follicles, p < 0.003). Follicular fluid SHBG levels correlated positively with serum SHBG levels (p < 0.001) and with the total number of follicles (p < 0.02). Furthermore, small follicles had higher follicular fluid SHBG concentration compared to large follicles (102.9 ± 35.0 nmol/l vs. 85.85 ± 34.88 nmol/l, p < 0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
SHBG levels and the SHBG (TAAAA)(n) polymorphism are associated with follicle size.
Hatzi
Elissavet
E
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Bouba
Ioanna
I
Galidi
Anna
A
Lazaros
Leandros
L
Xita
Nectaria
N
Sakaloglou
Prodromos
P
Kolios
Georgios
G
Bairaktari
Eleni
E
Kaponis
Apostolos
A
Zikopoulos
Konstantinos
K
Tsatsoulis
Agathocles
A
Georgiou
Ioannis
I
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin