title: Concentration of activin A and follistatin in follicular fluid from human small antral follicles associated to gene expression of the corresponding granulosa cells.
abstract: The present study correlated concentrations of activin A and follistatin in follicular fluid (FF) from human small antral follicles to FF concentrations of AMH, inhibin B, progesterone, and oestradiol and to the mRNA expression of FSH-receptor (FSHR), LH-receptor (LHR), AMH-receptor2 (AMHR2), CYP19a, and androgen-receptor (AR) in the corresponding granulosa cells (GC). FF from 144 follicles (3-12 mm in diameter) was included whereas mRNA expression profiles were established in GC from 66 of the 144 follicles. Levels of follistatin remained constant in relation to follicular diameter, whereas activin A levels increased in follicles exceeding 10 mm in diameter. Levels of activin A and inhibin B showed a highly significant inverse association. Follistatin showed highly significant positive associations with AMH and inhibin B levels and with FSHR and AR gene expression in GC. This study revealed unexpected associations that probably reflect the complicated regulatory mechanisms governing human folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children, and Reproduction - Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Janni_V_J@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yding Andersen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D038681:Follistatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C503233:FST protein, human; D038681:Follistatin; C422405:activin A; C422364:inhibin B; D028341:Activins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone