title: Cytokine and nitric oxide concentrations in follicular fluid and blood serum of patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment: relationship to outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in ovarian folliculogenesis and the development of mature and fertilizable oocytes is controversial. The aim of this study is to determine the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and NO in the follicular fluid (FF) and blood serum (S) of patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART) and to investigate whether these cytokines could be used as a predictive parameter for ART outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical study was performed at a university hospital including a total of 85 women who underwent ART. FF and serum samples were collected at the time of oocyte retrieval and measured for interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) technique, using commercially available kits and NO by the nitrate/nitrite colorimetric assay. The results were compared between the women who became pregnant and those who did not following ART.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found in the FF and blood serum concentrations of the cytokines and NO between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follicular fluid and blood serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α and NO do not predict pregnancy achievement following ART.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fıçıcıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumbak
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akcin
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rukset
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attar
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gazi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tecellioğlu
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Narter
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yeşildağlar
keywords: Assisted reproductive treatment; cytokines; follicular fluid; nitric oxide; pregnancy