INFLUENCE OF FOLLICULAR PHASE DURATION ON HUMAN GRANULOSA-LUTEAL CELLSUBPOPULATIONS IN NATURAL AND STIMULATED IVF-ET CYCLES

Objectives: To observe the granulosa-luteal cell subpopulations presen ted within follicular aspirates concerning duration of the follicular phase and the type of IVF protocol. Design: Cells were obtained from d ominant follicles of 40 women with natural IVF-ET cycles, in which pre ovulatory hCG was given wizen the follicle was mature, and from 40 fol licles of 32 women with hMG and hCG stimulated IVF-ET cycles, Granulos a-luteal cell subpopulations were observed by computerized image analy sis in which hCG was localized using immunoperoxidase staining. Result s: (1) The nonluteinized granulosa cells from natural developing folli cles were larger than those from stimulated ones regardless of the fol licular phase duration. (2) The size of each luteinized cell subpopula tions was influenced neither by the two IVF protocols nor by the folli cular phase duration, (3) The hCG stained cells from natural developin g follicles were larger than the ones from stimulated follicles and th eir relative number in aspirates was higher. Cell areas and distributi on were not influenced by the duration of follicular phase. (4) In sim ulated conditions, hCG stained cells became larger if follicular phase was longer. Conclusions: Duration of the follicular phase influences the immunocytochemical hCG localization and the morphometric character istics of granulosa-luteal cell subpopulations presented within natura l developing follicles and stimulated ones.