The effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on androstenedione production and follicular development during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Purpose: We performed a prospective randomized study to assess the effects of a GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) on follicular development and steroidogenesis during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) for tubal infertility received human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) stimulation with or without the GnRH-a, buserelin, beginning in the midluteal phase of the prior cycle. We analyzed serum hormone levels, follicular development, and outcome of IVF.

Role of corpus luteum function in embryo implantation.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of corpus luteum function in the implantation process of cryopreserved embryos. Six patients with tubal infertility were studied, with a total of 27 fresh embryos being replaced following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and in vitro fertilization. These embryo transfers failed to produce pregnancy.

Effects of prolactin on fertilization and cleavage of human oocytes.

The effects of PRL on fertilization and cleavage of human oocytes and subsequent pregnancy were studied. Forty-five patients (47 cycles) with euprolactinemic normal menstrual cycles undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the treatment of tubal infertility were selected for this study. The patients were divided into three groups dependent upon their mean serum PRL concentrations for the 3 days prior to oocyte retrieval; hypoprolactinemic (less than 10 micrograms/l), euprolactinemic (10-30 micrograms/l) and hyperprolactinemic cycles (greater than or equal to 30 micrograms/l).

The role of inhibin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Human follicular fluids from normal women and from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were collected at various stages of the menstrual cycle, and inhibin and steroid contents were determined by rat anterior pituitary cell monolayer bioassay system and specific RIAs, respectively. Inhibin contents in viable follicles were significantly higher than those in atretic and in cystic follicles. Preovulatory and luteal phase follicles had lower inhibin levels than viable follicles in normal women.