RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM ESTRADIOL CONCENTRATION AND IGF-I, IGF-II AND IGF-BINDING PROTEINS IN PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE ONSHORT-TERM ESTRADIOL THERAPY

Objective - Insulin-Like growth factors (IGFs) exert stimulatory effec ts on follicular growth and development, and early embryogenesis. In v iew of this, we studied the effect of short-term estradiol treatment, as used in preparing the uterus for embryo implantation, on the serum concentrations of IGFs and their binding proteins (IGFBP) in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF). Patients and Methods - Twenty-fo ur patients with POF, enrolled in an assisted reproduction program, we re treated with increasing doses of estradiol up to 8 mg daily for 6 w eeks. Blood was sampled for measurement of serum estradiol, IGF-I, IGF -II, and IGFBP 1, 2 and 3 at various times during estradiol treatment. Results - There was no significant correlation between serum estradio l concentrations and the serum concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-II. As expected, IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations in serum correlated positive ly with the serum concentration of IGFBP-3, the major IGF-binding prot ein in serum. Conclusion - The results of this study suggest that estr adiol therapy as used to prepare the uterus for implantation has no si gnificant effect on serum IGF-I and IGF-II: concentrations, and theref ore probably does not influence, via an IGF-mediated mechanism, the su ccess of implantation and early embryonic development.