title: [Comparison of prolactin, free T3 and free T4 levels in the follicular fluid of infertile women and healthy fertile oocyte donors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Follicular fluid (FF) provides an important microenvironment for the development of oocytes. The biochemical composition of the FF plays critical role in the oocyte competence. The aim of our study was to compare the levels of selected hormones in FF of infertile women and healthy fertile oocyte donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Charles University and University Hospital in Pilsen; Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, IVF Centers Prof. Zech, Plzeň.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of prolactin, free T3 and free T4 hormones in the FF of 146 women were analyzed. We have analysed FF of 74 infertile patients (mean age 31 years, SD = 4.65) and 72 healthy fertile oocyte donors (mean age 26 years, SD = 4.44). Only blood free samples were studied after pooling of all FF samples each patient. Levels of hormones were determined using ECLIA method (Electro-Chemi-Luminiscent Immunoassay) on the Cobas e411.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTS showed statistically significantly higher levels of prolactin (p=0.0006) and free T4 hormone (p=0.0246) in FF of infertile women in comparison to the group of healthy fertile oocyte donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms the presence of prolactin and thyroid hormones in FF and it can be suggested that they play a key role in the regulation of reproductive processes. The study of FF from donors and their detailed comparison with infertile patients with various gynaecological causes of infertility has great value for better understanding of regulatory mechanisms of fertility.
authors.affiliation: Ustav histologie a embryologie, LF UK, Plzen, prednostka doc. miroslova.cedikova@lfp.cuni.cz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cedíková
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Babuška
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajdl
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Zech
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kališ
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Králíčková
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000032:analysis*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011388:Prolactin; D013974:Thyroxine