Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 1, 35-44,
January 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Prospective analysis of the relationships between the ovarian follicle cohort and basal FSH concentration, the inhibin response to exogenous FSH and ovarian follicle number at different stages of the normal menstrual cycle and after pituitary down-regulation
1 Assisted Conception Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 2 Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences and 3 MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK 4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: r.a.anderson{at}hrsu.mrc.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: Analyses of the follicular reserve and activity of the ovary are central to our understanding of the regulation of follicular development. We have carried out a prospective analysis of endocrine and biophysical assessments under three differing basal conditions: the early follicular and mid-luteal phases, and following GnRH analogue down-regulation. METHODS: Hormonal analyses were carried out before and after a single dose of FSH on spontaneously ovulating women (n = 58). Ovarian volume and antral follicle count (AFC) were also determined. RESULTS: Inhibin B and estradiol concentrations were increased by FSH under all three conditions, and inhibin A in the follicular phase and after down-regulation. Basal hormone concentrations, except inhibin A and B after down-regulation, did not generally correlate with AFC. A close relationship between inhibin B and AFC was evident at all stages after FSH administration (r = 0.70–0.77). AFC and inhibin B after FSH stimulation were well correlated with the number of oocytes recovered after superovulation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that inhibin B after FSH administration in the down-regulated state showed the closest correlation with oocyte number. In the more clinically useful early follicular and luteal phases, basal FSH was the most significant contributor to the number of oocytes, with a significant contribution from luteal phase AFC. CONCLUSIONS: These data extend our understanding of the relationships between follicular number, follicular functional activity, and the recruitable follicular population. Down-regulation and subsequent FSH stimulation was required to clearly demonstrate the close relationship between inhibin B and the ovarian reserve. Without such complex manipulation, early follicular phase FSH (supplemented by AFC in the relatively hypogonadotrophic luteal phase) remains of greater value in predicting the ovarian reserve than the currently known direct products of the ovary.
Key words: FSH/follicular development/inhibin B/ovarian reserve/pituitary down-regulation
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. Weghofer and N. Gleicher Ovarian function: a theory of relativity Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2009; 24(1): 17 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. R. Soares, R. Gomez, C. Simon, J. A. Garcia-Velasco, and A. Pellicer Targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor system to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome Hum. Reprod. Update, April 2, 2008; (2008) dmn008v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. McIlveen, J.D. Skull, and W.L. Ledger Evaluation of the utility of multiple endocrine and ultrasound measures of ovarian reserve in the prediction of cycle cancellation in a high-risk IVF population Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 22(3): 778 - 785. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F.J. Broekmans, J. Kwee, D.J. Hendriks, B.W. Mol, and C.B. Lambalk A systematic review of tests predicting ovarian reserve and IVF outcome Hum. Reprod. Update, November 1, 2006; 12(6): 685 - 718. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.A. Anderson, A.P.N. Themmen, A.A. -Qahtani, N.P. Groome, and D.A. Cameron The effects of chemotherapy and long-term gonadotrophin suppression on the ovarian reserve in premenopausal women with breast cancer Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2006; 21(10): 2583 - 2592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. S. Wachs, M. S. Coffler, P. J. Malcom, and R. J. Chang Comparison of Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone-Stimulated Dimeric Inhibin and Estradiol Responses as Indicators of Granulosa Cell Function in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Normal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 2920 - 2925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Eldar-Geva, A. Ben-Chetrit, I. M. Spitz, R. Rabinowitz, E. Markowitz, T. Mimoni, M. Gal, E. Zylber-Haran, and E. J. Margalioth Dynamic assays of inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone and estradiol following FSH stimulation and ovarian ultrasonography as predictors of IVF outcome Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2005; 20(11): 3178 - 3183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESHRE Capri Workshop Group Fertility and ageing Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2005; 11(3): 261 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. P Hohmann, J. S E Laven, F. H de Jong, and B. C J M Fauser Relationship between inhibin A and B, estradiol and follicle growth dynamics during ovarian stimulation in normo-ovulatory women Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2005; 152(3): 395 - 401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. R. Hansen, A. C. Thyer, P. M. Sluss, W. J. Bremner, M. R. Soules, and N. A. Klein Reproductive ageing and ovarian function: is the early follicular phase FSH rise necessary to maintain adequate secretory function in older ovulatory women? Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 89 - 95. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Lutchman Singh, M. Davies, and R. Chatterjee Fertility in female cancer survivors: pathophysiology, preservation and the role of ovarian reserve testing Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2005; 11(1): 69 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.J. Hendriks, F.J.M. Broekmans, L.F.J.M.M. Bancsi, F.H. de Jong, C.W.N. Looman, and E.R. te Velde Repeated clomiphene citrate challenge testing in the prediction of outcome in IVF: a comparison with basal markers for ovarian reserve Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 163 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. H. Wallace and T. W. Kelsey Ovarian reserve and reproductive age may be determined from measurement of ovarian volume by transvaginal sonography Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2004; 19(7): 1612 - 1617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Unger, M. Hoopmann, R. Bald, D. Foth, and F. Nawroth Monozygotic triplets and monozygotic twins after ICSI and transfer of two blastocysts: case report Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2004; 19(1): 110 - 113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.E. Bath, W.H.B. Wallace, M.P. Shaw, C. Fitzpatrick, and R.A. Anderson Depletion of ovarian reserve in young women after treatment for cancer in childhood: detection by anti-Mullerian hormone, inhibin B and ovarian ultrasound Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2003; 18(11): 2368 - 2374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|