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Two cases of ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovarian stimulation attempts.

Concerns have been raised recently about the possible association between superovulation and ovarian cancer. In order to contribute to the limited literature on this important issue, two cases of ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovulation inductions are presented. In the first case, the patient had secondary anovulatory infertility. She was treated with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) alone and in combination with clomiphene citrate or buserelin for six cycles. She then underwent ovarian stimulation with buserelin/HMG in the long protocol for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. In preparation for a new IVF/embryo transfer attempt, 8 months later, the screening ultrasound revealed a cystic formation of the left ovary and an enlargement of the right. During laparotomy, both ovaries were found to bear large tumours (approximately 6 x 5 x 4 cm) which were removed. Histological examination showed that they were epithelial tumours (serous-papillary cystadenomas) of borderline malignancy. The patient conceived spontaneously 1.5 years after the operation. In the second case, the patient presented with secondary anovulatory infertility. She underwent ovulation induction with clomiphene/HMG and with buserelin/HMG in the long protocol, and intra-uterine insemination with husband's spermatozoa and conceived (singleton pregnancy). She was delivered by Caesarean section, during which a cystic tumour of the left ovary was removed. Histological examination revealed a benign mucous cystadenoma of the ovary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Utility of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in programs of ovarian hyperstimulation with intrauterine insemination.

The GnRH agonists have practical and theoretic advantages for adjunctive use in ovulation induction. The IVF cycles demonstrate a decrease in the cancellation rate, an increase in the ease of scheduling, and an increase in the number of oocytes obtained per retrieval when GnRH agonists are employed. Other advantages, such as an improvement in the fertilization and cleavage rate, an increased length of the luteal phase, and an increased pregnancy rate, are suggested but not universally accepted. The utility of adding GnRH agonists to human menopausal gonadotropin-intrauterine insemination cycles is similarly in dispute. Although controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with both human menopausal gonadotropins alone and in conjunction with GnRH agonists have produced pregnancies when coupled with intrauterine insemination, it was demonstrated that there was a significantly greater pregnancy rate per cycle with the use of a GnRH agonist in a recalcitrant infertile population. Others did not substantiate this improvement in pregnancy rate per cycle in their patient population of regularly ovulating women undergoing their first controlled ovarian stimulation cycle either with or without GnRH agonist therapy. This suggests that women with ovulatory dysfunction, and particularly women who previously have not responded to therapy with human menopausal gonadotropin therapy, will reap the most benefits from the addition of a GnRH agonist to their ovulation induction regimen. The addition of a GnRH agonist to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is a highly effective method of inducing pregnancy in a recalcitrant infertile population. Patients who did not conceive with human menopausal gonadotropins-intrauterine insemination may conceive with GnRH agonist-human menopausal gonadotropins-intrauterine insemination therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

[Benefits and risks of ovarian stimulation before intrauterine insemination].

Performance of intra-uterine insemination (IIU) is generally advocated as a first line therapy for infertility related to cercical hostility, male factor, unexplained infertility or mild endometriosis. IIU are usually performed following stimulation of ovulation, even in absence of anovulation. However the rationale for such a systematic ovulation induction is still questionable. Indeed, while an overall assessment of ovarian stimulation tends to conclude to a beneficial effect of these treatments in unexplained or some male infertility, it is clear that no definitive conclusion can be drawn. Indeed, the methodology in many published series is mostly inadequate, data are usually not analysed according to the type of infertility or to the female hormonal features. Finally, adverse effects are imperfectly descripted. A more accurate analysis of these data in relation to the number of recruited follicles definitively shows that, if a bifollicular development is associated with a significant increase in the pregnancy rates, there is no advantage to stimulate further the ovary. Indeed, surpassing the recruitment of two follicles would lead to dramatically increase the risk of OHSS and multiple pregnancies. Thus, further investigations including prospective, randomized studies are needed to better define what should be the most adequate regimen of ovulation induction. Specifically, tailoring the rate of multifollicular development according to the duration, the type of infertility (etiology; primary or secondary; female age) would prove to be a safer approach for getting pregnancy as well as avoiding adverse effects. Such a policy remains to be determined in the light of further clinical studies conducted in the more appropriate manner.

Female↗

Follicular development: lessons learned from human in vitro fertilization.

In vitro fertilization has offered new insights into our understanding of ovulation induction, folliculogenesis, and luteal phase events. This new information is provided by the ability to precisely study these cycles in a frequent and sequential fashion through the use of peripheral blood markers, ultrasound evaluation, and follicular fluid constituents and cell culture techniques, as well as direct observation of the oocyte, fertilization, and cleavage. In these stimulated cycles the follicular phase serum estradiol levels in conjunction with ultrasound were evaluated; a poor correlation was shown between follicle size and number and estrogen production. This distinct dyssynchrony suggests the recruitment of a number of cohorts of follicles in each stimulated cycle. From the biochemical markers in follicular fluid, cyclic adenosine monophosphate has a distinct predictive value in regard to pregnancy in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles. In the luteal phase, the mass effect of aspiration of great numbers of granulosa cells, the effect of supplemental progesterone, and the influence of high follicular phase estradiol levels remain controversial and, therefore, a less clear cut pattern emerges. Variations in the protocol have not greatly improved the major problems of folliculogenesis associated with ovulation induction and an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program, that is, follicular asynchrony and luteal phase deficiency.

Body Fluids↗

Follicular development and hormone concentrations following recombinant FSH administration for anovulation associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome: prospective, randomized comparison between low-dose step-up and modified step-down regimens.

The present study compared ovarian performance and hormone concentrations, after ovulation induction, in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients, using recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) in low-dose step-up and modified step-down regimens. Twenty-six women with clomiphene citrate-resistant chronic anovulatory infertility were treated with rhFSH in two consecutive cycles according to two different low-dose regimens: (i) the classic chronic low-dose step-up protocol, the starting dose being 75 IU; (ii) a modified step-down protocol where the starting dose was 300 IU followed by 3 days free of treatment, then rhFSH 75 IU daily was given and stepwise dose increments were performed exactly the same as in the step-up method. Each woman received both treatment approaches, in a randomized order, with an interval of > or = 1 month between treatments. The total number of follicles that were > 10, > 14 and > 17 mm in diameter on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, and thus cycles with HCG cancelled, were significantly increased with the step-up approach. The total number of rhFSH ampoules tended to be higher with the step-down schedule despite the fact that both the mean duration of treatment and the threshold dose were similar with the two low-dose approaches. A physiological step-down approach for ovulation induction in PCOS patients may be more appropriate in order to avoid multifollicular cycles than the step-up approach.

Adult↗

Clomiphene citrate attenuates hyperprolactinemia associated with ovarian hyperstimulation in the primate menstrual cycle.

Exogenous human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy produces transient hyperprolactinemia during ovulation induction or ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization, and hyperprolactinemia has been linked to decreased fertility. Coadministration of clomiphene citrate (CC) with hMG is often used to decrease the total amount of hMG used in such patients, but whether this results in less hyperprolactinemia is not known. As the hyperprolactinemia in this setting is a threshold phenomenon dependent on the strength and duration of estrogen exposure, we investigated whether CC acted as an estrogen to enhance PRL secretion or as an antiestrogen deterring estradiol (E2)- and progesterone (P4)-induced hyperprolactinemia in nonhuman primates. Normally cycling (control) monkeys (n = 4) received E2 benzoate (12.5 micrograms/kg, im, daily) on menstrual cycle days 6-33 and continuous crystalline P4 via Silastic implants on days 20-33, a regimen known to initiate hyperprolactinemia. Treated monkeys (n = 5) received the same regimen, except that oral CC (15 mg daily) was given on days 6-33. Daily serum samples were assayed for E2, P4, and PRL. Both treatments caused significant (P less than 0.05) increases in serum PRL concentrations during P4 administration. The CC-treated monkeys had significantly smaller increases in mean PRL [21 +/- 1.5 (+/- SEM) vs. 44 +/- 6.3 ng/mL (micrograms/L); P less than 0.05] and smaller mean area under the PRL response curve [288 +/- 35 (+/- SEM) vs. 588 +/- 121 ng/day.mL (micrograms/day.L); P less than 0.05] than the control monkeys. We conclude that CC attenuates the hyperprolactinemia response to E2/P4 synergy in monkeys by acting as an antiestrogen. If coadministered with hMG for ovulation induction or ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization, CC should attenuate hMG-induced hyperprolactinemia, thereby reducing its potentially adverse effects on fertility.

Animals↗

In-vivo ovarian androgen responses to recombinant FSH with and without recombinant LH in polycystic ovarian syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Effects of exogenous LH on ovarian androgen secretion during ovulation induction have not been clearly characterized in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The purpose of this study was to compare androgen secretion in PCOS women during ovarian stimulation with either recombinant FSH (rFSH) alone or combined with recombinant LH (rLH). METHODS: Clomiphene-resistant women with PCOS were allocated, in a factorial study design, to receive either daily injections of rFSH (n = 24) or rFSH + rLH (n = 24) in a 1:1 ratio starting: (i) on day 2-3 of progestogen-induced menses (n = 8); (ii) after 6 weeks of GnRH agonist treatment (nafarelin, 400 micro g twice daily; n = 8); or (iii) after nafarelin treatment as in (ii) plus dexamethasone (n = 8). The effects of rFSH with rFSH + rLH under these three hormone conditions on serum LH, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (DeltaDelta(4)) and testosterone were contrasted by analysis of variance with specific treatment days as a repeated measures factor. RESULTS: Pre-study hormone levels were similar for all groupings. Nafarelin significantly suppressed LH levels, which remained at the lower limit of assay sensitivity (0.5 IU/l) during stimulation with rFSH but increased significantly to >1 but <2 IU/l when rLH was added. As expected, 17-OHP, DeltaDelta(4) and testosterone levels fell following nafarelin treatment. Dexamethasone further suppressed 17-OHP, DeltaDelta(4) and testosterone levels and unmasked a small but significant rise in these ovarian steroids 24 h following the first dose of rFSH + rLH, a rise that was absent with rFSH alone. Secretion of these steroids then appeared to 'catch-up' after 5 days of rFSH stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite profound LH, 17-OHP, DeltaDelta(4) and testosterone suppression, comparable E(2) response, follicle development and successful pregnancies in PCOS subjects receiving rFSH alone to those receiving rFSH + rLH would argue that circulating LH at levels as low as 0.5 IU/l are sufficient to sustain adequate follicle development and function when FSH is present in abundance. Whether the observed dichotomy between rFSH and rFSH + rLH treatment in temporal secretion patterns reflects a greater reliance on evolving paracrine mechanisms as the follicles mature under profound LH suppression remains to be explored but may influence the optimal LH threshold for ovulation induction in PCOS.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Ultrasound evaluation of the uterine zonal anatomy during in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

This study was designed to establish if ultrasound could detect differences in uterine zonal anatomy between conception and non-conception in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer cycles. A transvaginal ultrasound scan was performed on the day of down regulation (D0), on day 8 of ovulation induction (D8), on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection, at the time of oocyte retrieval, and at embryo transfer. Thicknesses of endometrium, junctional zone, myometrium and full thickness of the uterus were recorded for every patient and comparisons made at all the assessment points. Differences between measurements on D0 and all other measurements (temporal changes) and between every subsequent measurement (dynamic changes) were also compared. There were no statistically significant differences in endometrial thickness between pregnant and non-pregnant groups at any time. The diameter of the uterus increased during therapy and was significantly greater in the pregnant subset at the time of HCG injection, oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer (P < 0.02, 0.03 and 0.02 respectively). The myometrium was significantly thicker in the pregnant group on D0, on D8 and at HCG administration (P < 0.03, 0.004 and 0.02). There was a decrease in junctional zone thickness in both groups during the first week of ovulation induction, and on D8 the junctional zone in pregnant patients was significantly thinner (P < 0.04). The junctional zone became significantly thicker at embryo transfer in the pregnant group (P < 0.01). This was confirmed by significant temporal and dynamic changes at the time of oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer (P < 0.01, 0.0001 and P < 0.05, 0.01 respectively). In the patients who did not conceive, changes in the junctional zone were less pronounced. In conclusion, it was not possible to predict the likelihood of pregnancy from endometrial thickness at any time during the IVF cycle, but changes occurred in other uterine layers that were more pronounced in conception cycles. The responsiveness of the junctional zone seems to be associated with implantation, and its measurements at the time of downregulation and embryo transfer can be used to predict treatment outcome.

Adult↗

Does the addition of recombinant LH in WHO group II anovulatory women over-responding to FSH treatment reduce the number of developing follicles? A dose-finding study.

BACKGROUND: In anovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction, addition of recombinant human LH (rLH) to FSH treatment may promote the dominance of a leading follicle when administered in the late follicular phase. The objective of this study was to find the optimal dose of rLH that can maintain the growth of a dominant follicle, whilst causing atresia of secondary follicles. METHODS: Women with infertility due to anovulation and over-responding to FSH treatment were randomized to receive, in addition to 37.5 IU recombinant human FSH (rFSH), either placebo or different doses of rLH (6.8, 13.6, 30 or 60 microg) daily for a maximum of 7 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who had exactly one follicle > or = 16 mm on hCG day. RESULTS: Among 153 enrolled patients, the five treatment groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. The proportion of patients with exactly one follicle > or = 16 mm ranged from 13.3% in the placebo group to 32.1% in the 30 microg rLH group (P = 0.048). The pregnancy rate ranged from 10.3% in the 60 microg group to 28.6% in the 30 microg rLH group. Adverse events were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients over-responding to FSH during ovulation induction, doses of up to 30 microg rLH/day appear to increase the proportion of patients developing a single dominant follicle (> or = 16 mm). Our data support the 'LH ceiling' concept whereby addition of rLH is able to control development of the follicular cohort.

Adult↗

Infertility treatment after conservative management of borderline ovarian tumors.

BACKGROUND: Young patients with ovarian tumors of low malignant potential usually undergo conservative surgery because of the excellent prognosis of these tumors. Patients wishing to conceive after diagnosis occasionally require ovulation induction, but data regarding the safety of assisted reproductive technologies in this situation remains anecdotal. The current study analyzes the outcome of a group of patients who received infertility treatment after the conservative management of borderline ovarian tumors. METHODS: The clinical and pathologic records of 104 patients with a borderline tumor of the ovary who were treated and followed over a 20-year period (1979--1999) were reviewed. Forty-three patients who underwent conservative management were the subjects of the current study. RESULTS: Follow-up was available for 95% of the patients, giving a total of 270 women-years of follow-up. Nine of the 43 patients developed a local recurrence, 8 of which occurred in patients with serous tumors. Five of these 9 patients underwent cystectomy only at the time of recurrence, and all were without evidence of disease at a mean follow-up of 75 months (range, 25--93 months). Nineteen patients delivered a total of 25 healthy children after diagnosis of a borderline ovarian tumor; 7 of these patients were treated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) after diagnosis. Four of these patients developed a recurrence, two patients before the IVF treatment and two patients after the IVF treatment. The latter two patients were without evidence of disease at the time of last follow-up (15 months and 26 months, respectively, after the recurrence). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that ovulation induction may be considered after the diagnosis of a borderline ovarian tumor. Recurrences were observed in two of seven patients, all of which remained histologically borderline.

Adolescent↗

Lower risks of adverse outcome in twins conceived by artificial reproductive techniques compared with spontaneously conceived twins.

The outcomes of twins conceived by 136 women after medical assistance (MA) such as ovulation induction with or without assisted reproductive techniques, and twins conceived spontaneously (SP) by 72 women were compared. All 208 women were monitored from < 20 weeks gestation; they all delivered at > or = 24 weeks gestation. The chorionicity of the placenta was diagnosed antenatally and confirmed after delivery. There were 10 perinatal deaths; the physical and neurological status of the remaining 406 infants was assessed at 1 year of corrected age. There were no differences in gestational age at birth, the birth weights of the larger and smaller twins, the birth weight discordance, or the incidence of life-threatening major malformations between groups. Adverse infant outcomes, such as death, cerebral palsy and mental retardation occurred in nine (3.3%) of 272 MA twins compared with 12 (8.3%) of 144 SP twins (P < 0.05). The placenta was monochorionic in only three (2.2%) of 136 MA twin pregnancies compared with 41 (57%) of 72 SP twin pregnancies (P < 0.001). Of the 21 infants with adverse outcomes, nine had monochorionic placentas. Thus, the risk of an adverse outcome was 2.8-fold higher (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-6.4) in monochorionic twins than in dichorionic twins (10 versus 3.7%; P < 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse infant outcomes between SP (4.8%) and MA (3.4%) twins with dichorionic placentas. These findings suggest that ovulation induction in itself was not associated with an adverse outcome of twin pregnancies. The lower frequency of monochorionic placentas in MA twins may have been responsible for the lower risk of an adverse outcome in MA twins.

Birth Weight↗

Luteinzing hormone activity in menotropins optimizes folliculogenesis and treatment in controlled ovarian stimulation.

Although the role that LH plays in folliculogenesis is still controversial, recent evidence points toward facilitatory actions of LH activity in ovulation induction. Thus, we compared the response to either highly purified FSH (75 IU FSH/ampoule; group A, 25 subjects) or human menopausal gonadotropin (75 IU FSH and 75 IU LH/ampoule; group B, 25 subjects) in normoovulatory GnRH agonist-suppressed women, candidates for intrauterine insemination. A fixed regimen of 2 daily ampoules of highly purified FSH or human menopausal gonadotropin was administered in the initial 14 days of treatment; menotropin dose adjustments were allowed thereafter. Treatment was monitored with daily blood samples for the measurement of LH, FSH, 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), progesterone, testosterone, hCG, inhibin A, and inhibin B, and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound was performed at 2-day intervals. Although preovulatory E(2) levels were similar, both the duration of treatment (16.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 12.6 +/- 0.5 days; P< 0.005) and the per cycle menotropin dose (33.6 +/- 2.4 vs. 23.6 +/- 1.1 ampoules; P < 0.005) were lower in group B. In the initial 14 treatment days the area under the curve of FSH, progesterone, testosterone, inhibin A, and inhibin B did not differ between the 2 groups, whereas LH, hCG, and E(2) areas under the curve were higher in group B. The occurrence of small follicles (<10 mm) and the inhibin B/A ratio in the late follicular phase were significantly reduced in group B. A nonsignificant trend toward a higher multiple gestation rate was present in group A (60% vs. 17%). We conclude that ovulation induction with LH activity-containing menotropins is associated with 1) shorter treatment duration, 2) lower menotropin consumption, and 3) reduced development of small ovarian follicles. These features can be exploited to develop regimens that optimize treatment outcome, lower costs, and reduce occurrence of complications such as multiple gestation and ovarian hyperstimulation.

Adult↗

Effect of female body weight on efficiency of donor AI.

A total of 1,144 infertile women were treated by artificial donor insemination. Unsuccessful ovulation induction was found in 96 of these cases. The obese women (BMI: 28-36) had a relative risk of unsuccessful ovulation induction of 2.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1-3.4) compared with women lower or normal body weight (BMI: 20-24). The effect was smaller in women with a BMI 25-27 or < 19 (relative risk (RR) = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.9-2.1 and 1.5, 95% CI = 0.8-2.5), respectively. During the AID treatment 412 pregnancies occurred. Pregnancy rate achieved by insemination was 28% (50 pregnancies per 178 cases, BMI 16-19), 42% (251/599, BMI 20-24), 33% (92/286, BMI 25-27), and 21% (19/81, BMI 28-36), respectively, in the different BMI groups.

Body Mass Index↗

Effects of clomiphene administration on ovarian function as measured by estradiol and ultrasound.

The growth and rupture of the graafian follicle were studied in 23 women during 40 cycles (20 spontaneous, 20 clomiphene-induced) by the estimation of plasma estradiol levels and ultrasound scan. The mean preovulatory estradiol peak level was 415 pg/ml in spontaneous cycles and 626 pg/ml after clomiphene administration when one follicle was present. Ultrasonic examination revealed the presence of more than one developing follicle in one of 20 spontaneous cycles, and in 11 of 20 cycles after clomiphene treatment. The determination of follicle size and number by ultrasound scan during ovulation induction by the routinely used starting dosage of clomiphene has revealed a previously unrecognized incidence of ovarian overstimulation, and may allow the rationalization of ovulation induction regimens.

Clomiphene↗

Surgical treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to provide a critical summary of current knowledge on the role and effectiveness of ovarian surgery in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Clomiphene citrate is used as a first-line treatment for ovulation induction in infertile anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. In clomiphene citrate-resistant women, other treatment modalities such as laparoscopic electrocautery or ovulation induction with gonadotropins have been proposed as alternative therapies. Although gonadotropin treatment and laparoscopic ovarian drilling have demonstrated similar reproductive outcomes, laparoscopic ovarian drilling has some advantages over gonadotropin treatment such as lower cost per pregnancy, improvement in menstrual regularity, and better long-term reproductive performance. On the other hand, knowledge about the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome has been growing and insulin-sensitizing drugs have gained popularity as a new treatment option. SUMMARY: According to current data, metformin has gained popularity as first-line management in clomiphene citrate-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome. If ovulation does not occur within several months after treatment with metformin, after the evaluation of all pros and cons related to each treatment, laparoscopic ovarian drilling or gonadotropins may be considered as an effective option according to patient choice.

Clomiphene↗

Endocrine profiles in early pregnancies with delayed implantation.

Delayed implantation in cycles with ovarian stimulation and ovulation induction was observed in eight patients. Endocrinological evidence for ovulation during pregnancy is presented in three cases; in one of them the implantation was evidently rescued by a new active corpus luteum. All pregnancies had the following factors in common: (1) A delay in the detection of the first positive serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) by 4-5 days. (2) The corpus luteum was not rescued initially and menstruation started at low serum concentrations of 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone between 12 to 18 days (13.8 +/- 1.9 days) after induction of ovulation. (3) Because of the negative HCG, menstrual bloodloss and low steroid hormone concentrations, a new ovarian stimulation was started and continued for some days until pregnancy was detected. On the basis of the endocrine findings, three different forms of delayed implantation could be distinguished. Two of the eight pregnancies had a normal progression until full-term delivery, two developed into echographically-confirmed clinical pregnancies, but aborted at 9 and 11 weeks after the first menstrual period had started. The remaining four ended with a preclinical abortion between 7 and 8 weeks.

Adult↗

Accidental ovarian autograft after a laparoscopic surgery: case report.

OBJECTIVE: To report an autograft of ovarian tissue in the incision of the surgical trocar during laparoscopic surgery and to assess the potentiality of grafting of ovarian parenchyma in nonpelvic tissue in humans. DESIGN: A case report. SETTING: Instituto de Fertilidad y Ginecología de Buenos Aires (IFER), Buenos Aires, Argentina. PATIENT(S): Infertile patient undergoing surgery due to an endometriotic cyst of the left ovary. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic cystectomy. Accidental retention of a portion of the capsule and adjacent ovarian tissue of the endometrioma in SC cellular tissue. Months after surgery, a SC tumor was formed under the surgical incision. It was subsequently excised. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Observation of tumor growth during menstrual cycles and ovulation induction; anatomopathologic study of the tissue after its extirpation. RESULT(S): The tumor grew spontaneously in the periovulatory period and during treatments of ovulation induction. The anatomopathologic report of the tumor, removed 15 months after the first surgery, revealed functioning ovarian tissue with vessels of neoformation. CONCLUSION(S): This is the first description of autografted ovarian tissue in humans. We describe that the ovary can maintain its ovulatory function even in the absence of its pedicel. Also, we suggest that extirpation of surgical material through the incision of the trocar is not recommended, as the possibility of "sowing" or of autografts may occur.

Adipose Tissue↗

Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase in rat ovarian follicles: content, cellular distribution, and evidence for hormonal induction preceding ovulation.

These studies were undertaken to determine if the content of prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH) synthase (PGS) was regulated in rat ovarian follicles in a time-, tissue-, and dose-dependent manner. For quantitation and localization of the enzyme by immunoblot and immunofluorescent analyses, respectively, a polyclonal antibody to highly purified (95%) ovine seminal vesicle PGS [mol wt, (Mr), 72,000] was generated in a rabbit, and an immunoglobulin G fraction of the antiserum was purified by elution from a PGS affinity resin. Soluble cell extracts were prepared from: 1) small antral (SA) and preovulatory (PO) rat follicles before and at selected time intervals after exposure to increasing doses (0.25-10.0 IU) of hCG, 2) granulosa and thecal cells of these same follicles, and 3) granulosa cells of hypophysectomized (H) rats before and after treatment with estradiol (HE), estradiol and FSH (HEF), and 10 IU hCG. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that the content of PGS (Mr, 72,000) was low (negligible) in granulosa and thecal cells of SA and PO follicles, was induced preferentially (approximately 15-fold) in granulosa cells between 1 and 7 h after hCG treatment (0.5, 2.0, or 10 IU), and declined between 12-24 h after administration of 10 IU hCG, reaching undetectable amounts in corpora lutea isolated 48 h after hCG treatment. PGS (Mr, 72,000) was also induced by 10 IU hCG in granulosa cells of HEF rats, but was low in granulosa cells of H, HE, and HEF rats. In contrast, prostacyclin synthase was present in granulosa cells of preantral (H and HE rats), SA, and PO follicles, was not induced by hCG, and was highest in thecal cells. Immunofluorescent analyses confirmed both the tissue-specific localization and induction of PGS in granulosa cells of rat PO follicles treated with 10 IU hCG and the subcellular fractionation analyses showing that the PGS that was induced by hCG was localized primarily to a membrane (plasma membrane?) fraction of granulosa cells. Immunofluorescent data also demonstrated immunoreactive PGS in the vascular tissue of the rat corpus luteum but not in the luteal cells. Results of these studies document unequivocally that the synthesis of prostaglandins that is increased by LH/hCG in rats preceding ovulation is associated with an increased PGS content, that induction of the induced enzyme is transient, and that the enzyme is primarily localized to granulosa cell membrane fractions.

Animals↗