IMMUNOREACTIVE ENDOTHELIN-1 CONCENTRATIONS IN FOLLICULAR-FLUID OF WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS UNDERGOING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION-EMBRYO TRANSFER

Objective: To determine the concentrations of immunoreactive (IR) endo thelin-1 in human follicular fluid (FF) and whether IR-endothelin-1 le vels are different in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. Design: Follicular fluid and plasma samples, obtained from women with and without endometriosis undergoing IVF-ET, were collected at the ti me of oocyte aspiration and analyzed for IR-endothelin-1 levels. Setti ng: Infertility clinic in an academic research environment. Results: O verall, 90% of FF samples and 60% of plasma samples contained IR-endot helin-1 detectable above the threshold of assay sensitivity. Immunorea ctive endothelin-1 levels (mean +/- SEM) in FF samples from women with and without endometriosis-associated infertility were 74 +/- 12 and 3 7 +/- 6 pg/mL, respectively. There was no difference in IR-endothelin- 1 levels in FF samples between controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cyc les with or without leuprolide acetate. No significant differences wer e detected in plasma IR-endothelin-1 levels in women with endometriosi s-associated infertility when compared with those without. Conclusions : These results demonstrate the presence of IR-endothelin-1 in human F F obtained at the time of oocyte aspiration for IVF-ET and higher leve ls of IR-endothelin-1 in FF of women with endometriosis-associated inf ertility.