title: Circulating concentration of stem cell factor in serum of stimulated IVF patients.
abstract: Stem cell factor (SCF) plays a major role in haematopoiesis and spermatogenesis, and possibly female fertility. This study investigated the role of changes in SCF concentrations in 74 assisted conception patients. In group 1 (n=74) SCF concentration was assessed in serum and follicular fluid (FF) on the day of follicular puncture (FP) and compared in serum and FF in response to ovarian stimulation between low (n=25), moderate (n=26) and high (n=14) responders. In group 2 (n=30) serum for SCF assessment was collected throughout the menstrual cycle until gestation. SCF concentration related to the number of follicles in serum and in FF decreased from low to moderate and high responders (P<0.001); pregnancy rates were 20.0%, 34.6% and 50.1%, respectively (P=0.05). SCF in serum increased from stimulation days 6-8 to 9-11 and peaked on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin injection (P=0.03). The SCF concentrations dropped slightly on the day of FP, increased significantly to the day of pregnancy confirmation and reached highest concentration (P=0.02) during gestation. SCF is involved in follicle development and may be a predictor of IVF outcome.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, Christian-Albrechts-University, Arnold-Heller Strasse 3, Kiel, Germany. asalmassi@email.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmassi
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zorn
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mettler
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jonat
authors.forename: Andreas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D004958:Estradiol