C. Huyser et al., SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN FOLLICULAR-FLUID WITH REGARD TO IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) PARAMETERS, FOLLICULAR PROTEIN, AND HORMONE CONTENT, Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 10(5), 1993, pp. 371-378
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.