Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone versus gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist/recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone on follicular fluid levels of adhesion molecules during in vitro fertilization

Systemic inflammation, cellular influx and up-regulation of ovarian VCAM-1 expression in a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

“…This suggests that blockage of VCAM-1 could constitute a potential therapeutic target in PCOS. The soluble form of VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) has been detected in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF where its levels correlated positively to progesterone levels (Fornaro et al, 2007), fertilization rate, the degree of theca cell layer luteinization, levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (Benifla et al, 2001) and angiogenic effects in late follicular developmental stages (Gruemmer et al, 2005). Taken together, these data allow us to speculate that abnormal expression of VCAM-1 in the ovary of androgenised mice could be related not only to leukocyte migration to cysts but also to the altered angiogenesis, theca cell layer function, and follicular development described in polycystic ovaries (Hughesdon, 1982;Järvelä et al, 2004;Webber et al, 2007).…”

Follicular growth and oocyte maturation in GnRH agonist and antagonist protocols forin vitrofertilisation and embryo transfer

“…However, it must be taken into account that the endocrine milieu during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is different with the GnRH antagonist protocol from that with the GnRH agonist protocol, mainly because of their inherently different mechanism of action. It has been postulated that there may be differences in the pattern of follicular growth and oocyte maturation between agonist and antagonist cycles [11][12][13].…”