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Follicular fluid α 1 ‐antitrypsin—correlation with fertilizing capacity of oocytes
Author(s) -
IMOEDEMHE D.,
SHAW R. W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1986.tb07996.x
Subject(s) - follicular fluid , oocyte , radial immunodiffusion , follicular phase , human fertilization , andrology , in vitro fertilisation , embryo transfer , medicine , endocrinology , biology , chemistry , embryo , immunology , anatomy , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary. Follicular fluid and serum concentrations of α‐antitrypsin (α 1 ‐AT) were determined by radial immunodiffusion in 72 samples obtained from 33 infertile women undergoing in‐vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. A statistically significantly lower concentration of α 1 ‐AT was found in follicular fluids from which mature oocytes were recovered (mean 1.52, SE 0.06 g/l) than in those yielding immature oocytes (mean 2·96, SE 0·22 g/l). There was also a significantly higher rate of fertilization (85%) for oocytes from follicular fluids with α 1 ‐AT concentrations of ≤2·0 g/l than for those obtained when the α 1 ‐AT concentration was >2·0 g/l (only 25%). The mean follicular fluid α 1 ‐AT concentration (1 ·52, SE 0·06 g/l) of follicles yielding mature oocytes was significantly lower than the relevant mean serum concentration (3·17, SE 0·10 g/l). There was, however, no significant difference between follicular and serum concentration of α 1 ‐AT in the group yielding immature oocytes or in the serum concentrations between the different oocyte maturity groups. The measurement of follicular α 1 ‐AT may be a useful adjunct in predicting which oocytes are mature and likely to be fertilized.