[Effect of 7-day gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol on IGF-II and IGFBP-4 levels in the follicular fluid]

Abstract

Objective: To explore the different effect of short 7-day gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) protocol and GnRHa long protocol on the insulin-like growth factor II(IGF-II) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) levels in follicular fluid.

Methods: Eighty-eight infertile patients due to tubal factors were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a short 7-day GnRHa protocol group and a GnRHa long protocol group (n = 44). Follicular fluid was obtained from dominant follicles during oocyte retrieval. Levels of IGF-II and IGFBP-4 in the follicular fluid were detected by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively.

Results: Duration of controlled ovarian stimulation was significantly shorter and the injected dosages of gonadotropin were significantly lower in the short 7-day protocol group. The differences in serum levels of estradiol and estradiol per mature follicle on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection between the two groups were not significant. The concentrations of IGF-II and IGFBP-4 in the follicular fluid of the short 7-day protocol group were significantly lower,while the difference of the ratio of IGF-II/IGFBP-4 between the two groups was not significant. Linear correlation analysis showed that IGF-II level in the follicular fluid was positively correlated to the total dose of gonadotropin.

Conclusion: The short 7-day and long GnRHa protocols may affect the concentrations of IGF-II and IGFBP-4 in the follicular fluid. However, changes of IGF-II and IGFBP-4 concentrations do not contribute to different clinical outcomes.