Background: In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocyte is a promising treatment option for infertile women.IVM procedures attempt to mimic the natural conditions of the follicular environment. The technique of IVM of oocytes has been successful after the first trial using culture of human oocytes in follicular fluid. The crucial part of this technique is the maturation process itself, and the...

In this controlled clinical study, we determined the serum and follicular fluid concentrations of the biologically active fractions of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in 39 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer (ET). Serum levels of ionized Ca (Ca2+) and ionized Mg (Mg2+) were measured during day 3 of the IVF cycle, on the day of ...

A family of C29 4,4-dimethylsterol intermediates in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway from lanosterol has been found to induce oocytes to resume meiosis.[248] One of these sterols, 4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8,14,24-triene-3β-ol, was extracted from human follicular fluid and named follicular fluid meiosis–activating substance (FF-MAS). A related compound, 4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8,24-diene-3β-o...

Increasing interest in events regulating gonadotropin synthesis and secretion led to the reexamination, by radioimmunoassay (RIA), of the pituitary content of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In a preliminary experiment, the importance of the composition of the solvent used to homogenize pituitaries on the detection of LH and FSH was demonstrated by RIA. Experime...

OBJECTIVE To examine the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and identify its role in pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN In this prospective study, ROS and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were measured by the chemiluminescence method in the follicular fluid of 53 women. Age, number of oocytes recovered, percen...

Addit ion of either 25% or 50% bovine follicular fluid (FF) to Krebs Ringer phosphate buffer, with .5% fructose added (KRPF), maintained higher percentages (P<.05) of motile sperm throughout 9-hr incubation at 37 C than did 100% KRPF or 100% FF. Accelerated sperm moti l i ty and head-to-head agglutination of sperm cells were consistently observed in all diluents that contained FF. The percentag...

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder associated with reproductive disorders and metabolic dysfunctions including insulin resistance. The roles of vitamin D in the regulation of metabolic modulations specifically involving insulin and reproduction processing are introduced. In addition, obesity appears to be closely associated with severity of PCOS. T...