The levels of steroid hormones and cytokines in individual follicles are not associated with the fertilization outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Objective

To investigate the association between the levels of two steroid hormones and eight cytokines in fluids from individual follicles and the fertilization outcome of the oocytes derived from the same follicles.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

University hospital.

Patient(s)

Forty-three women participating in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)/ET cycles.

Intervention(s)

The ovarian stimulation followed the multidose GnRH antagonist protocol. ICSI was performed in mature oocytes. The concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, leptin, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I were measured by immunoassay methods in the follicles from which the mature oocytes were derived.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The concentrations of the above hormones and cytokines in individual follicles and the fertilization outcome of the oocytes derived from the same follicles.

Result(s)

The intrafollicular concentrations of the above factors were not significantly associated with the fertilization outcome. These factors were not correlated with embryo quality, with the exception of leptin, which was weakly associated with embryo score (R = 0.276).

Conclusion(s)

The intrafollicular concentrations of the above factors cannot predict the fertilization outcome after ICSI.

Key Words: Estradiol, progesterone, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, leptin, VEGF, FGF, EGF, IGF-I, fertilization