SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN FOLLICULAR-FLUID WITH REGARD TO IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) PARAMETERS, FOLLICULAR PROTEIN, AND HORMONE CONTENT

Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate possible relationships with sp ectrophotometric absorbance (458-nm region) and biochemical variables in follicular fluid (FF) as well as in vitro fertilization (IVF) outco me. Methods: This study included 227 normal ovulatory women undergoing oocyte retrieval for IVF. Blood-uncontaminated fluid samples, identif ied by spectrophotometry, were investigated. Spectrophotometric absorb ance of FF at 458 nm (n = 426), as well as hLH, FSH, PRL, hCG, testost erone, sialic acid, alpha1-antitrypsin and plasminogen of selected flu ids, was analyzed. Results: Small-volume follicles (less-than-or-equal -to 2 ml) were associated with higher absorbance profiles (P < 0.05), when compared to volumes greater than 2 ml. Our data suggest that the presence or absence of an oocyte, the potential of an oocyte to fertil ize or cleave, failed to show any relationship with maximum FF absorba nce at 458 nm. Maximum absorbances were significantly lower in FF from patients who subsequently became clinically pregnant (P = 0.039). No correlation between FF absorbances and biochemical parameters (P > 0.1 5) were established. Conclusions: Absorbance of clear FF at 458 nm sho uld not be viewed as the single parameter to predict oocyte developmen t in vitro.