Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Thurston, L.M.
Right arrow Articles by Michael, A.E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Thurston, L.M.
Right arrow Articles by Michael, A.E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 8, 1603-1612, August 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Ovarian modulators of type 1 11{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11{beta}HSD) activity and intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios correlate with the clinical outcome of IVF

L.M. Thurston1, D.P. Norgate1, K.C. Jonas1, L. Gregory2, P.J. Wood3, B.A. Cooke1 and A.E. Michael1,4

1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Royal Free and University College Medical School (Royal Free Campus), University College London, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF; 2 Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN; 3 Regional Endocrine Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: t.michael{at}rfc.ucl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Follicular fluid (FF) contains compounds that can modulate NADP+-dependent oxidation of cortisol by type 1 11{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11{beta}HSD). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between levels of the ovarian modulators of type 1 11{beta}HSD, intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios and the clinical outcome of IVF cycles. METHODS: A single random sample of FF was aspirated from each of 132 patients undergoing gonadotrophin-stimulated IVF. Components of FF, resolved using C18 column chromatography, were evaluated for effects on NADP+-dependent cortisol oxidation in rat kidney homogenates. Intra- follicular steroid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays. Clinical pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasonography at 6 weeks post-embryo transfer. RESULTS: Levels of the hydrophilic ovarian 11{beta}HSD stimuli were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) and levels of the hydrophobic ovarian 11{beta}HSD inhibitors were significantly higher (P < 0.002) in conception versus non-conception cycles. Intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios increased with the degree of inhibition of 11{beta}HSD by the hydrophobic FF fractions. FF obtained from conception cycles had significantly higher cortisol:cortisone ratios than samples from non-conception cycles (12.9 ± 0.3 versus 8.5 ± 0.2, respectively; P < 0.0001). CONLCUSIONS: Conception by IVF is associated with elevated intra-follicular cortisol:cortisone ratios, which reflect low levels of ovarian stimuli and/or high levels of ovarian inhibitors of type 1 11{beta}HSD.

Key words: 11{beta}HSD/cortisol/cortisone/hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/IVF


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
A. E. Michael and A. T. Papageorghiou
Potential significance of physiological and pharmacological glucocorticoids in early pregnancy
Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2008; 14(5): 497 - 517.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
C Chandras, T E Harris, A L. Bernal, D R E Abayasekara, and A E Michael
PTGER1 and PTGER2 receptors mediate regulation of progesterone synthesis and type 1 11{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by prostaglandin E2 in human granulosa lutein cells
J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2007; 194(3): 595 - 602.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.