OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentrations of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in individual human preovulatory follicles in relation to their diameter or volume for clarifying the role of these molecules in folliculogenesis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Research laboratory at Kansai Medical University. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven women undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Follicular fluid (FF) was collected from individual follicles. A total of 373 follicles were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF and oocyte recovery rates. RESULT(S): The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in follicles with a diameter ≤ 14 mm were significantly lower than those in follicles with a diameter ≥ 15 mm. The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF increased with follicular diameters or volume, with concentrations peaking in follicles with a diameter of 18-20 mm or a volume of 3.6-5.0 mL. Furthermore, we found that there exists a positive correlation between the concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF from follicles ≤ 20 mm in diameter. The oocyte recovery rates increased with concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF. CONCLUSION(S): Our data suggest that SDF-1, as well as VEGF, may play an important role in follicular growth and development.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentrations of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in individual human preovulatory follicles in relation to their diameter or volume for clarifying the role of these molecules in folliculogenesis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Research laboratory at Kansai Medical University. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven women undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Follicular fluid (FF) was collected from individual follicles. A total of 373 follicles were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF and oocyte recovery rates. RESULT(S): The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in follicles with a diameter ≤ 14 mm were significantly lower than those in follicles with a diameter ≥ 15 mm. The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF increased with follicular diameters or volume, with concentrations peaking in follicles with a diameter of 18-20 mm or a volume of 3.6-5.0 mL. Furthermore, we found that there exists a positive correlation between the concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF from follicles ≤ 20 mm in diameter. The oocyte recovery rates increased with concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF. CONCLUSION(S): Our data suggest that SDF-1, as well as VEGF, may play an important role in follicular growth and development.