Gonadotrophin stimulation reduces follicular fluid hormone concentrations and disrupts their quantitative association with cumulus cell mRNA.

Research Question: Do follicular fluid hormone concentrations and the mRNA expression of LHCG, FSH and androgen receptors, aromatase and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in cumulus granulosa cells differ in naturally matured and stimulated follicles?

Design: Cross-sectional study involving 57 natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) and 36 conventional gonadotrophin-stimulated IVF (cIVF) cycles performed between 2014 and 2016. cIVF was performed by ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists. Hormone concentrations were determined in the follicular fluid of the leading follicle, and mRNA concentrations were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in RNA extracted from granulosa cells of the cumulus oophorus complex obtained from these fluids.

The endocrine milieu in naturally matured follicles is different in women with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations.

Research Question: Is the endocrine milieu different in women with low serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration compared with women with high concentration?

Design: Cohort study of 84 women (four groups) classified according to AMH concentration and age undergoing natural cycle IVF treatment. Concentrations of LH, oestradiol, testosterone, androstenedione and AMH were determined in follicular fluid (FF), associations analysed and clinical outcome parameters evaluated.

Results: A positive correlation between serum and FF AMH concentrations was confirmed.

Association of endocannabinoids with pain in endometriosis.

Endocannabinoid (eCB) levels fluctuate in inflammatory conditions and as such may take part in endometriosis-associated pain or even in endometriosis pathogenesis. In this case-control (23 cases and 19 controls) study, targeted lipids were measured in the serum and peritoneal fluid collected during laparoscopy. Endometriosis was confirmed histologically.

Gonadotropin Stimulation Has Only a Limited Effect on the Concentration of Follicular Fluid Signalling Proteins: An Antibody Array Analysis.

Objective: The follicular fluid (FF) plays an essential role in the physiology of the follicle and the oocyte. Gonadotropin stimulation affects the FF steroid hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, which has been suggested to be the reason for lower oocyte competence in conventional gonadotropin stimulated fertilisation (cIVF) compared to natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF). To analyse the effect of gonadotropin stimulation on a broad spectrum of signalling proteins, we ran proteomic antibody arrays on FF of women undergoing both treatments NC-IVF and cIVF.

Peritoneal fluid biomarkers in patients with endometriosis: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Elevated concentrations of numerous molecules have been reported in the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis. Until now, no factor proved sufficiently specific to endometriosis. We aimed to investigate several biomarkers in endometriosis and report their association with the menstrual cycle in a large sample size study.