| Research Abstract |
1. In order to appraise follicular development, human serum inhibin was measured daily by radioimmunoassay in 18 women undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation. Serum inhibin in the early follicula phase correlated with the number of follicles<greater than or equal> 17 mm in diameter(r=0.57), follicles<greater than or equal>14 mm in diameter(r=0.67)on the day of hCG administration. These deta suggest that : In early follicular phase, serum inhibin may be a valid index to predict ensuing follicular growth ; In the preovulatory Phase, serum inhibin may by one of applicable indexes of follicular development during the hyper
2. The effect of activin A on meiotic maturation was analyzed in oocyte from imroature rats treated with PMSG ; Activin A, which was purified as the erythroid differentiation factor, accelerated the maturation of not only follicle-enclosed oocytes and oocytecumulus complexes, but also denuded oocytes, as measured by an increase in the percentage of oocytes with germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD). Oocyte maturation was not accelerated by activin A in the presence of the inhibitor of GVBD such as cyclic-AMP, These results showed activin A is a potent in vitro stimulator of oocyte maturation.
3. Daily sc injections of 40 ug activin A over a period of 1-3 days to intact immature female rats caused a significant increase in serum FSH, inhibin, estradiol, uterine weight and ovarian FSH receptors. Daily sc injections of 5 ug or 20 ug activin-A for 6days caused a marked increase in ovarian weight and the development of large ovarian follicles. Simultaneous injections of both activin-A and 5IU PMSG induced a significant increase in ovarian and uterine weight, serum inhibin and e. stradiol levels, compared to simultaneous injections of both vehicle and PMSG in the hypophysectomized immature female rats.
|
