title: Serum amyloid A: expression throughout human ovarian folliculogenesis and levels in follicular fluid of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase protein expressed primarily in the liver in response to various injuries and inflammatory stimuli and is recognized as a modulator of inflammation. Ovarian reproductive functions including folliculogenesis and ovulation use inflammatory processes; thus, studying SAA in this context is of interest.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the expression and localization of SAA in ovarian developing follicles and its levels in follicular fluids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonradioactive in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining were applied on ovarian paraffin tissue sections. ELISA and RT-PCR were applied on follicular aspirates and blood samples from women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of SAA mRNA and protein was found in follicular cells at all stages of follicular development, from primordial and primary follicles through antral follicles and corpora lutea. Expression was observed in granulosa, theca and luteal cells, and oocytes. Expression of SAA was also found in granulosa cells recovered from follicular aspirates. The SAA protein was detected in follicular fluids. Its levels were somewhat lower than in peripheral blood with strong correlation between the two compartments and with significant correlation with patient's body mass index. High follicular fluid SAA levels were associated with reduced pregnancy rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAA is locally produced in ovarian developing follicles and is a constituent of follicular fluids, suggesting its role within the follicular environment. Elevated follicular SAA levels are associated with decreased pregnancy rate and may signify lower reproductive performance.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91240, Israel. simcha@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Simcha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urieli-Shoval
authors.forename: Zvesdana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Finci-Yeheskel
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eldar
authors.forename: Reinhold P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prus
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haimov-Kochman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009866:Oogenesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D021381:Protein Transport; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein