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Pre‐ovulatory Granulosa Cells of Infertile Women with Endometriosis are Less Sensitive to Luteinizing Hormone
Author(s) -
Cahill David J.,
Harlow Christopher R.,
Wardle Peter G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2003.01156.x
Subject(s) - endometriosis , luteinizing hormone , endocrinology , medicine , infertility , in vitro fertilisation , ovulation , andrology , ovary , hormone , chemistry , biology , pregnancy , genetics
Cahill DJ, Harlow CR, Wardle PG. Pre‐ovulatory granulosa cells of infertile women with endometriosis are less sensitive to luteinizing hormone. AJRI 2003; 49:66–69 © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2003 PROBLEM: Reduced fertilization rates in women with minor endometriosis may be the result of direct effects on the ovary or to primary dysfunction within the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis. This controlled study was designed to examine the steroidogenic potential of luteinized granulosa cells in women with minor endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY: Granulosa cells were harvested at oocyte recovery and incubated for 3 hr in increasing concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH). The dissociation constant for added concentrations of LH was computed (as K m LH) and the results were compared between women with endometriosis and controls. RESULTS: Women with minor endometriosis had a higher dissociation constant than women with tubal damage [ K m 0.98 (0.58–9.24) versus 0.33 (0.28–0.72) ng/mL, P =0.019], indicating reduced sensitivity to LH. CONCLUSIONS: In women with endometriosis, granulosa cells were less sensitive to LH stimulation. This provides further evidence for primary ovarian dysfunction as a significant contributory cause of the associated subfertility.