Objective: To determine the concentrations of hyaluronan, E(2), and progesterone in follicular fluids (FFs) and the incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells. Also, to examine the relationship between the concentration of hyaluronan and follicular steroids, the incidence of apoptotic cells, and the fertilizability of the oocyte in the same follicle.
Design: Samples of 130 follicles were retrospectively analyzed for hyaluronan and steroids and the incidence of apoptotic cells.
Setting: The reproductive center in Yamagata University Hospital.
Patient(s): Forty women infertile because of tubal damage or unknown causes undergoing IVF treatment were selected.
Intervention(s): The samples were collected from follicle aspirations.
Main outcome measurement(s): The concentrations of hyaluronan and steroids in FFs, the incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells, and oocyte fertilizability.
Result(s): The levels of hyaluronan in FF were found to correlate positively with P (r=0.444, P<0.0001) and the incidence of apoptotic cumulus granulosa cells (r=0.387, P=0.002) and inversely with E(2) (r = -0.601, P<0.0001) and free T (r = -0.344, P=0.001). The concentration of hyaluronan in FFs containing a subsequently fertilized oocyte after insemination was significantly lower than that in FFs containing a subsequently unfertilized oocyte (P=0.0005) (fertilized, 50.0 +/- 2.6 ng/mL; triploidy, 59.1 +/- 6.8; and unfertilized, 66.9 +/- 5.9).
Conclusion(s): The concentration of hyaluronan in FF is an indicator for estimation of oocyte viability for fertilization.