Dimeric inhibins and activin A in human follicular fluid and oocyte–cumulus culture medium

Abstract

The concentrations of inhibin A, inhibin B and activin A in follicular fluid and oocyte culture medium were analysed to investigate the production of these peptide hormones by ovarian granulosa cells and oocyte-cumulus complexes, as well as their potential as possible biochemical markers for oocyte quality and fertilizing capacity. Follicular fluids were collected from individual follicles during oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Oocyte-cumulus culture media were collected after in-vitro insemination. The concentrations of dimeric inhibin A, inhibin B and activin A were measured using two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in the follicular fluid and matched oocyte culture medium. Hormone concentrations were compared with oocyte quality and fertilizing capacity. The concentration of inhibin A in follicular fluid increased while that of inhibin B decreased with increasing follicle size. Follicular fluid concentrations of inhibin A inhibin B and activin A were not significantly different in follicles with differing oocyte quality. Oocyte culture medium concentrations of activin A were significantly higher in morphologically good quality oocytes. There was no relationship between the concentrations of the three hormones and oocyte fertilizing capacity. This study confirms that follicular fluid concentrations of inhibin A may prove to be a marker of follicular growth and maturation. Higher concentrations of activin A produced by good quality oocyte-cumulus complexes suggest that activin A may play a role in oocyte maturation.

Ovarian Localization of Immunoglobulin G and Inhibin .ALPHA.-Subunit in Guinea Pigs after Passive Immunization against the Inhibin .ALPHA.-Subunit.

“…Inhibin is mainly produced by granulosa cells and is detectable in follicular fluids with multiple molecular forms in female mammals [3,[22][23][24][25]. After injections of inhibin antiserum or NGS, Ig G enters the follicular fluid of antral follicles in the ovary, and this makes it possible for inhibin antibodies, one kind of Ig G, to combine with inhibins in follicular fluid and have local functions in follicular development.…”

Evaluation of the immature human oocytes from unstimulated cycles in polycystic ovary syndrome patients using a novel scoring system

“…A relationship between the DNA fragmentation of the cumulus cells and nuclear maturity has been proposed (31). Others have proposed the content of inhibin A and B and activin A in the follicular fluid as biochemical markers for oocyte quality and fertilizing capacity (32). At present, however, none of these assays has been implemented in the IVF laboratory.…”

Activin A-induced increase in LOX activity in human granulosa–lutein cells is mediated by CTGF

“…1B). Given that the average concentrations of activin A in follicular fluid and serum are 1110-1210 ng/mL and 30-40 ng/mL, respectively (Harada et al 1996, Lau et al 1999, we continued our studies using a treatment concentration of 30 ng/mL activin A. To evaluate the time-dependent effects of activin A, we next treated the cells with 30 ng/mL activin A for 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 h. The results showed that the CTGF mRNA levels were increased at 3 h. This stimulatory effect persisted until 24 h after exposure to activin A (Fig.…”