Changes in the Levels of Pituitary and Steroid Hormones in Ovine and Human Ovarian Follicular Fluid

Shailaja, K.; Kumari, G.L.; Vohra, S.

doi:10.1159/000180043

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…steroids, gonadotrophins or growth factors. All previous in-vitro follicular fluid studies reported endocrine data from cross-sectional studies of groups of follicles considered to be at the same stage of development because of a similarity in size (Bomsel-Helmreich et al, 1979;McNatty et al, 1979;Brailly et al, 1981;McNatty, 1981;Testart et al, 1983;Shailaja et al, 1985;Westergaard et al, 1986;Magoffin, 1992, 1993). There are two main drawbacks to this approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This high precision has led to a more accurate assessment of the chronological endocrine events during the mid-to late follicular phase (Ahmed Ebbiary et al, 1994). On the other hand, all in-vitro studies lack this precision and endocrine data from pooled follicular fluid obtained from several follicles have been reported (Bomsel-Helmreich et al, 1979;McNatty et al, 1979;Gwatkin, 1980;Brailly et al, 1981;McNatty, 1981;Nilsson et al, 1982;Testart et al, 1983;Lenton et al, 1985;Shailaja et al, 1985;Westergaard et al, 1986;Xiao and Xiao, 1989;Magoffin, 1992, 1993). More recent in-vivo studies have described the follicles following the LH surge or the administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to time endocrine events, and thus offer only an assessment of the luteinized late preovulatory follicle (Bomsel-Helmreich, 1983;Marrs et al, 1984;Lobo et al, 1985;Templeton, 1985;Lenton et al, 1988;Stone et al, 1988;Siebel et al, 1989;Westergaard and Andersen, 1989;Tonetta et al, 1990;Andersen, 1991;Andersen et al, 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ovary and ovulation: Folliculocentesis: a novel research technique to investigate the intrafollicular endocrine microenvironment

et al. 1995

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During development of the dominant follicle, the avascular granulosa cells and oocyte are exposed to the follicular fluid endocrine microenvironment. An alteration in the endocrine characteristics of follicular fluid affects follicular steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation and subsequent corpus luteum function. In-vitro studies on pooled follicular fluid from ovarian specimens lacked temporal precision between menstrual and follicular endocrine events. We have established a new technique, termed folliculocentesis (FC), to sample follicular fluid from the dominant ovarian follicle without compromising its growth or function during the mid- to late follicular phase. A total of 38 subjects with regular ovulatory cycles each underwent two identical cycles of hormone and follicle growth monitoring: one cycle served as the control, and FC was performed during the second cycle. During all cycles, plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol and ultrasound monitoring of follicle growth were commenced on day 7 and continued until after ovulation. During FC cycles, 200 microliters of follicular fluid were aspirated from the dominant follicle using transvaginal ultrasound guidance when the follicle diameter reached > or = 10 mm. Six subjects were excluded from the study because of incomplete or invalid endocrine data. In all, 32 subjects completed both the FC and control cycles. The follicle growth pattern, maximum follicle diameter, plasma oestradiol, oestradiol peak, plasma LH, LH surge and follicular phase length were similar during FC and control cycles. A total of 50 valid follicular fluid samples were obtained when the dominant follicle was sampled once, twice or three times during the same cycle and from the same follicle in 15, 16 and one subjects respectively. The follicular fluid samples contained steroid concentrations consistent with those of the mid- to late follicular phase. We conclude that the FC procedure is safe, easy to perform and does not affect follicle growth or hormone dynamics. Analysis of the follicular fluid samples is expected to provide us with valuable in-vivo information about ovarian endocrinology.

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