Anaerobic glycolysis. The metabolism of the preovulatory human oocyte.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the process of glycolysis in gonadotropic, hyperstimulated, human ovarian follicles.

Study Design: Follicular fluid (FF) lactate and glucose concentrations were measured in 26 patients with tubal factor infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

Results: The mean FF lactate and glucose concentrations were 3.17+/-0.90 mM with positive, and 3.39+/-0.91 mM with negative correlations to follicular size. FF lactate concentration correlated negatively to glucose levels.

Conclusions: Our study confirms in vivo the anaerobic glycolysis in gonadotropic, hyperstimulated human ovarian follicles.