HIGH-LEVELS OF IMMUNOREACTIVE ENDOTHELIN-1 IN HUMAN FOLLICULAR FLUIDS

Follicular fluids were obtained from 180 follicles of 15 women undergoing follicular aspiration for in-vitro fertilization. Follicular development was induced by a combination of buserelin acetate and human menopausal gonadotrophin. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in human follicular fluids were determined by specific radioimmunoassay. ET-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) ranged from 338 to 928 pg/ml. ET-1-LI concentrations in follicular fluids obtained from immature (<15 mm) follicles were significantly higher than those from mature (15-25 mm) and post-mature (greater-than-or-equal-to 25 mm) follicles. No correlation was found between the concentration of ET-1-LI, on the one hand, and that of oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, prostaglandin E2 or platelet activating factor on the other, in follicular fluids. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between ET-1-LI concentration and follicle stimulating hormone and IGF-II concentrations, respectively. These data suggest that the high concentration of ET-1 found in follicular fluids may play some physiological role in follicular development.