Human Reproduction vol.12 no.8 pp.1789–1793, 1997 Concentrations of prostaglandin F2α in follicular fluid

from women with endometriosis* A.Bergqvist1,4, J.Brunkwall2 and F.Ploman3 theca and stromal compartments and have been identified in significant quantities in follicular fluid (Jeremy et al., 1987;1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Huddinge University Abrahamsson et al., 1990; Gelety and Chaudhuri, 1992). TheHospital, S-141 86 Huddinge and 2Department of Surgery and ovarian hormones on the other hand influence the synthesis of3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Malmo ̈ University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden prostaglandins. Most information has been obtained from animal studies, where follicular prostaglandins increase4To whom correspondence should be addressed dramatically during the hours after the preovulatory gonado-Previous data have indicated that prostaglandins (PG) trophin rise and some studies in laboratory animals suggest play an important role in the ovulation process and signi- that the preovulatory increase of prostaglandins plays a critical ficant quantities have been found in follicular fluid. The role (Le Maire et al., 1975; Koos and Clark, 1982; Dennefors synthesis of PG is influenced by ovarian steroids as well as et al., 1983). Several prostaglandins such as PGE2, PGF2α, inflammatory processes. Increased PG has been shown in thromboxane (TxB2) and 6-keto-PGF1α have been identified peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis. The aim in follicular fluid, both from hyperstimulated human ovaries of this study was to see whether PGF2α concentration in as well as from spontaneous cycles (Ylikorkala and Tenhunen, follicular fluid varies according to the presence or absence 1984; Priddy et al., 1990; Watanabe et al., 1993). Granulosa