title: Association of serum and follicular fluid SHBG levels and SHBG (TAAAA)n polymorphism with follicle size in women undergoing ovarian stimulation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Elissavet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hatzi
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouba
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galidi
authors.forename: Leandros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazaros
authors.forename: Nectaria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xita
authors.forename: Prodromos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakaloglou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolios
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bairaktari
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaponis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zikopoulos
authors.forename: Agathocles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsatsoulis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin