INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-BINDING PROTEIN-1 IN HUMAN FOLLICULAR-FLUID - A MARKER FOR OOCYTE MATURATION

In order to investigate the role of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in human ovulation, we evaluated the concentrations of IGF-binding pr oteins (IGFBPs) in human follicular fluid (FF). The concentrations of IGFBP-1 in the FFs of 15 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and e mbryo transfer were measured and related to those of 17 beta-estradiol (E-2), progesterone and androstenedione in the FFs. IGFBP-1 levels in the FFs were positively correlated with those of E-2 and progesterone . No correlation was found between the IGFBP-1 and androstenedione lev els in FFs. The concentrations of IGFBP-1 were significantly increased in the FFs which contained mature oocytes compared with those of imma ture oocytes, whereas IGFBP-3 in FFs tended to decrease as oocytes mat ured. It is suggested that IGFs may play important roles in human preo vulatory processes, and that IGFBP-1 may be a valuable biochemical mar ker in the evaluation of oocytes.