ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE, ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE IN WOMEN UNDERGOING SPONTANEOUS AND GONADOTROPIN-STIMULATED OVULATORY CYCLES

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between th e concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone on the one hand and at rial natriuretic peptide CANP) concentrations on the other, during the follicular and luteal phases of spontaneous and gonadotrophin-stimula ted ovulatory menstrual cycles, A total of 27 ovulatory women undergoi ng either a spontaneous (n = 9) or a gonadotrophin-stimulated (n = 18) cycle were selected for inclusion in this study, In comparison with s pontaneous cycles, gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles had increased peak follicular oestradiol (mean +/- SE; 937 +/- 150 versus 195 +/- 18 pg/m l; P < 0.05) and midluteal progesterone (mean +/- SE; 44.0 +/- 7.4 ver sus 14.1 +/- 2.4 ng/ml; P < 0.05) concentrations, There were no differ ences in the circulating ANP concentrations between the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, Despite the increased oestradio l and progesterone concentrations following gonadotrophin stimulation, no difference in ANP concentrations was seen between stimulated and s pontaneous cycles, There was no correlation between circulating concen trations of oestradiol, progesterone (at physiological and supraphysio logical concentrations) and ANP throughout the menstrual cycle.