Adjunctive growth hormone during ovarian hyperstimulation increases levels of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in follicular fluid : A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 1171 - 1176
• Main Authors: RABINOVICI, J, CATALDO, N. A, DANDEKAR, P, ROSENTHAL, S. M, GARGOSKY, S. E, GESUNDHEIT, N, MARTIN, M. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.04.1997
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Hormones. Endocrine system; Human Growth Hormone - pharmacology; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 - blood; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins - blood; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins - metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Ligands; Medical sciences; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Placebos; Radioimmunoassay; Stimulation, Chemical; Human; Ovarian follicular fluid; Induction; Insulin growth factor binding protein; STH; Assisted procreation; Exploration; Female sterility; Concentration; Insulin like growth factor 1; Ovulation; Biological activity; Protein hormone; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Female; Biological effect
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.82.4.1171

GH increases circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which can promote the growth and differentiated function of ovarian granulosa and theca cells. Reported studies of GH as an adjunct to menotropin stimulation in women, largely those with ovarian dysfunction, have not consistently shown a benefit of GH, despite increases in serum and follicular fluid IGF-I. We hypothesized that changes in intrafollicular IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which can antagonize IGF actions on granulosa cells, may underlie the inconsistent effects of GH. In the present study of GH, administered in double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fashion to regularly cycling women undergoing in vitro fertilization, we found that follicular fluid levels of IGFBP-1, -3, and -4 and serum levels of IGFBP-3, as well as follicular fluid and serum IGF-I, were significantly increased in the GH-treated cycles, when compared with the placebo cycle of the same patient. We suggest that the net increase in intrafollicular IGFBPs in GH cycles may mitigate the potential beneficial effect of increased IGF-I.