The concentrations of visfatin in the follicular fluids of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation are correlated to the number of oocytes retrieved

Objective: To compare the concentrations of visfatin in the plasma with those in follicular fluid of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and to discover their correlation to the number of oocytes retrieved. Further, to examine whether FSH or hCG affects the expression of visfatin and whether visfatin affects COX-2 expression in cultured granulosa luteal (GL) cells. Design: A clinical and in vitro study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Women subjected to IVF procedures were enrolled in the study. Intervention(s): Plasma and follicular fluid visfatin levels were analyzed using ELISA. FSH, PGE2 and visfatin were added to cultured GL cells. Main Outcome Measure(s): Enzyme immunoassay and RT-PCR were performed. Result(s): There was no correlation between follicular fluid and plasma visfatin levels (r = 0.443). The number of oocytes retrieved was significantly correlated to follicular visfatin levels in multiple linear regression analysis (r = 0.891, r(2) = 0.794). In vitro experiments on GL cells revealed that hCG and PGE(2) considerably increased visfatin mRNA expression. FSH did not affect visfatin mRNA expression. Treatment with visfatin caused an induction of COX-2 mRNA. Conclusions: The follicular fluid visfatin concentrations are correlated to the number of oocytes retrieved. Human GL cells produce visfatin, and visfatin synthesis is increased by hCG and PGE2 treatment. Visfatin can induce expression of COX-2 mRNA in GL cells. (Fertil Steril(R) 2010;93:1844-50. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)