STEROIDOGENESIS IN HUMAN FOLLICLES APPROACHING OVULATION AS JUDGED FROM ASSAYS OF FOLLICULAR FLUID

1977 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. FOWLER ◽  
S. T. H. CHAN ◽  
D. E. WALTERS ◽  
R. G. EDWARDS ◽  
P. C. STEPTOE

SUMMARY Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was given to patients at mid-cycle before the endogenous LH surge. Graafian follicles were aspirated 32–33 h later, before ovulation was expected, and the levels of several steroids in follicular fluid and in matching serum samples were measured by radioimmunoassay. Two types of Graafian follicle were identified at laparoscopy, based on the nature of the oocyte, granulosa cells and follicular fluid withdrawn from the follicles. Some were large, preovulatory and presumably becoming luteinized while others were generally smaller, non-ovulatory and still growing. The concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (Δ5 intermediates), androstenedione and testosterone were higher in non-ovulatory follicles, whereas large follicles usually contained high levels of progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, pregnenolone and oestradiol-17β. A cluster analysis of these data grouped follicles into two distinct clusters, which accorded with their identification as ovulatory or non-ovulatory at laparoscopy. Levels of progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and oestradiol-17β in follicular fluid were high in preovulatory follicles in comparison with plasma. Results in two patients indicated that plasma levels of these steroids were determined by the preovulatory follicle. Levels of plasma Δ5 steroids were closer to follicular fluid concentrations, whereas DHEA was higher in plasma. The role of the theca and granulosa is discussed in relation to the synthesis of progesterone and oestradiol-17β in follicles as ovulation approaches.

1991 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. Watson ◽  
P. L. Sertich

ABSTRACT This study investigated the sequence of hormonal changes within the preovulatory follicles of mares. Mares were injected i.v. with 2500 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) when a preovulatory follicle of 35 mm in diameter was detected. Fluid was aspirated from preovulatory follicles before (0 h), and 12, 24 and 36 h after administration of hCG. Concentrations of progesterone, prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF, 6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane B2 in follicular fluid increased significantly (P<0·01) between 0 and 36 h. At 36 h, PGE2 was present in highest concentrations, followed by PGF and 6-keto-PGF1α; thromboxane B2 was present at lower concentrations than other prostanoids. Concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α increased significantly (P<0·05) between 24 and 36 h. Leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4 and histamine were present in follicular fluid at all sampling periods and did not change significantly over time. In another experiment, buffered saline or indomethacin (either 100 or 500 μg) was injected into preovulatory follicles on the day that they reached 35 mm in diameter to determine whether blocking intrafollicular PG synthesis would affect ovulation. The interval between intrafollicular injection and ultrasonographic detection of luteinization was significantly longer (P<0·05) in mares treated with 500 μg indomethacin. Plasma progesterone concentrations were significantly (P<0·05) lower in indomethacin-treated mares than in control mares on the first 5 days after injection. These results indicate that intrafollicular concentrations of PGs increase significantly before ovulation in mares and may be involved in the ovulatory process. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 129, 131–139


1978 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. FOWLER ◽  
R. G. EDWARDS ◽  
D. E. WALTERS ◽  
S. T. H. CHAN ◽  
P. C. STEPTOE

SUMMARY The administration of human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) followed by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) stimulated the development of various numbers of follicles in patients treated for infertility. Graafian follicles from these patients were aspirated 32–33 h after the injection of HCG and the levels of steroids in the follicular fluid and matching serum samples were measured by radioimmunoassay. The follicles could not be grouped into two distinct clusters as found in patients given HCG during the menstrual cycle but a broad classification of follicles into four groups was indicated from the dendrogram. Two of the groups were similar to the ovulatory and non-ovulatory groups found previously, whereas the other two groups of follicles were more intermediate in nature. The use of a discriminant analysis showed that these two groups had clearly been stimulated by the HMG and HCG, although they were not yet fully ovulatory. Our data indicate that the number of developing follicles is considerably increased by treatment with HMG and HCG but there is asynchrony in follicular development because the pattern of steroid synthesis differs in many follicles. The effects of this asynchronous development on oocyte maturation and disorders of the luteal phase are discussed.


1983 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Mizuno ◽  
Tsuyoshi Otani ◽  
Mariko Shirota ◽  
Shuji Sasamoto

The present investigation was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the initiation of follicular maturation after inhibition of ovulation in rats treated with pentobarbitone sodium at 13.30 h and progesterone at 14.00 h on the day of pro-oestrus (day 0 denotes the day of these treatments). Ovulation was completely inhibited and the next spontaneous ovulation occurred on day 5, the expected day of the next oestrus. Follicular responsiveness to injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) indicated that preovulatory follicles at the time of treatment with pentobarbitone and progesterone regressed by 05.00 h on day 2. Maturation of a new set of follicles began from 17.00 h on day 2 and all rats were induced to ovulate by hCG injection by 17.00 h on day 3, the number of oocytes ovulated being comparable to normal ovulation. In the animals receiving pentobarbitone sodium and progesterone treatment, two selective rises in plasma FSH, which had peak levels at 05.00 h on day 1 and 11.00 h on day 2, were observed without a rise in LH. Preovulatory surges of FSH and LH occurred on the afternoon of day 4. These results suggest that the second rise in FSH was induced by regression of Graafian follicles present at the time of treatment with pentobarbitone sodium and progesterone and that this surge of FSH was responsible for initiation of maturation of a new set of follicles destined to ovulate in the subsequent cycle. The mechanism of induction and the role of the first rise of FSH from the night of day 0 to the morning of day 1 cannot be explained at present.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. F. Hunter ◽  
F. López-Gatius ◽  
O. López-Albors

Since 1980 several reports have indicated that temperatures vary between preovulatory follicles and other ovarian tissues in rabbit, cow, pig and human. However, these observations did not achieve prominence; they were regarded as artefacts due to the use of anaesthetics and open surgery (laparotomy). Recently, without resorting to anaesthesia or surgery, direct measurements of temperature in preovulatory follicles have been performed in the cow by means of a thermistor probe introduced into the antrum under ultrasonic guidance. Such follicles revealed a mean antral (follicular fluid) temperature 0.74°C and 1.54°C cooler than uterine surface and rectal temperatures respectively in ovulating cows, whereas no such temperature differences were detected in non-ovulating cows. Cows are predominantly monovular and preovulatory follicles attain a diameter of 15–22 mm or more. These features and the timescale of response to the preovulatory gonadotrophin surge make them a valuable model for the human preovulatory follicle. Temperature gradients are interpreted primarily in a context of final maturation of gametes immediately before the onset of fertilisation. Preovulatory follicular temperature in women could be assessed by a comparable approach and might become a valuable selection guide for oocyte viability.


1995 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Kishi ◽  
K Taya ◽  
G Watanabe ◽  
S Sasamoto

Abstract Plasma and ovarian levels of inhibin were determined by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) at 3-h intervals throughout the 4-day oestrous cycle of hamsters. Plasma concentrations of FSH, LH, progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol-17β were also determined by RIAs. In addition, hamsters were injected at various times with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to determine the follicular development. The changes in plasma concentrations of FSH after injection of antisera to oestradiol-17β (oestradiol-AS) and inhibin (inhibin-AS) on the morning of day 2 (day 1=day of ovulation) were also determined. Plasma concentrations of inhibin showed a marked increase on the afternoon of day 1, remained at plateau levels until the morning of day 4, then increased abruptly on the afternoon of day 4 when preovulatory LH and FSH surges were initiated. A marked decrease in plasma concentrations of inhibin occurred during the process of ovulation after the preovulatory gonadotrophin surges. An inverse relationship between plasma levels of FSH and inhibin was observed when the secondary surge of FSH was in progress during the periovulatory period. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17β showed three increase phases and these changes differed from those of inhibin. Changes in plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17β correlated well with the maturation and regression of large antral follicles. Follicles capable of ovulating following hCG administration were first noted at 2300 h on day 1. The number of follicles capable of ovulating reached a maximum on the morning of day 3 (24·8± 0·6), and decreased by 0500 h on day 4 (15·0 ± 1·1), corresponding to the number of normal spontaneous ovulations. Plasma concentrations of FSH were dramatically increased within 6 h after inhibin-AS, though no increase in FSH levels was observed after oestradiol-AS. These findings suggest that changes in the plasma levels of inhibin during the oestrous cycle provide a precise indicator of follicular recruitment, and that the changes in plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17β are associated with follicular maturation. These findings also suggest that inhibin may play a major role in the inhibition of FSH secretion during the oestrous cycle of the hamster. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 146, 169–176


1973 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Maurer ◽  
U. Volkwein ◽  
J. Tamm

ABSTRACT HCG was infused intravenously into normal male subjects. The doses administered were 500, 100 and 50 IU, respectively. During the initial phase of the infusions the plasma testosterone (T) levels decreased. Thirty minutes after starting the infusion of 500 and 100 IU HCG, respectively, the plasma testosterone increased. Significantly elevated values were observed 60 to 180 minutes after the cessation of HCG administration. The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations in the plasma showed a varying pattern. On the average this steroid also exhibited an increase in plasma following the HCG administration. From the results no conclusions can be drawn as to the extent to which the plasma concentrations of DHT have been influenced by a secretion from the testes or by a peripheral conversion of T into DHT.


1973 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwyneth E. Jones ◽  
A. R. Boyns ◽  
E. T. Bell ◽  
D. W. Christie ◽  
M. F. Parkes

ABSTRACT Immunoreactive canine luteinizing hormone (IRCLH) and progesterone were measured in the plasma of Beagle bitches. Changes in plasma hormone concentrations during pregnancy were similar to those seen in the non-pregnant animal during metoestrus. Administration of pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to anoestrous bitches induced oestrus. However, the duration of progesterone secretion was shorter than that seen in pregnant bitches. Treatment appeared to stimulate the secretion of IRCLH and in some animals plasma levels reached a maximum some weeks after the end of oestrus.


1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuhiro Sekiya ◽  
Yoshihito Furuhashi ◽  
Setsuko Goto ◽  
Shigeaki Kaseki ◽  
Yutaka Tomoda ◽  
...  

Abstract. A sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay system specific for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was prepared with the antibody Fab'-β-D-galactosidase complex and the antibody F(ab')2-immobilized silicone rubber solid phase by using a purified antibody to β subunit of hCG (hCGβ). The assay system cross-reacted less than 4% with human luteinizing hormone (hLH) and human follicular stimulating hormone (hFSH), and proved to be highly sensitive with hCG measurable at levels as low as 0.3 mIU per assay tube. Using 50 μl of serum sample, 6–600 mIU/ml of hCG in serum could be determined specifically with the same degree of precision as in radioimmunoassay but without sample interference with the assay. The coefficients of variation within-run and between-run were 8.6–8.9%, and 4.9– 10.7%, respectively. Values obtained with the enzyme immunoassay correlated well with those of radioimmunoassay ([unk] = 0.98, slope = 0.94, y-intercept = 10.2 mIU/ml for 75 serum samples). Results of the immunoassay of hCG levels in serial samples of serum from healthy women and patients with choriocarcinoma show that this method is useful in the clinical diagnosis of trophoblastic disease.


Author(s):  
Ingeborg H. Linskens ◽  
Marieke Levitus ◽  
Anneke Frans ◽  
Peter C.J.I. Schielen ◽  
John M.G. van Vugt ◽  
...  

Abstract: The VU University Medical Center (VUmc) was the first hospital in the Netherlands to introduce the Delfia Xpress for the analysis of free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the first trimester screening program for Down syndrome. Since then, others have implemented this system. In this study, we tested the equality of measurements for free β-hCG and PAPP-A between Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system.: A total of 40 serum samples were aliquoted and stored at –20°C. Samples were analyzed by six Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system over a time period of 2 years.: The relationships between free β-hCG and PAPP-A were excellent for the different Delfia Xpress systems (r>0.99, p<0.0001). For PAPP-A, the agreement between the main system at VUmc and five other systems was linear with slopes between 0.99 and 1.06. Similarly, agreement for free β-hCG was linear with slopes between 0.99 and 1.09. Likewise, agreement for PAPP-A and free β-hCG was excellent for the AutoDelfia vs. the main Delfia Xpress at the VUmc (r>0.99, p<0.0001). For both PAPP-A and free β-hCG, the relationships were linear with slopes of 1.08 and 1.07.: We demonstrate an excellent agreement for the analysis of PAPP-A and free β-hCG between Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system.Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:222–6.


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