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Peripheral plasma met-enkephalin levels in ovulatory and anovulatory human menstrual cycles
E A Saad1, D R Bromham, K Bhabra
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that met-enkephalin has a role in human ovulation and that plasma levels may differ between ovulatory and anovulatory ovarian cycles.
Design:
This is a descriptive study comparing levels of plasma met-enkephalin, gonadotropins, and ovarian steroids in 12 ultrasonically confirmed ovulatory cycles and 12 anovulatory cycles.
Setting:
The study took place in the infertility clinic of a large teaching hospital receiving primary and tertiary referrals of both private and public sector patients.
Patients:
All patients (n = 16) had infertility greater than or equal to 3 years and normal findings on previous investigation including evidence of ovulation.
Interventions:
Ovarian cycles were defined using transabdominal ultrasound scanning. Biochemical analyses were by radioimmunoassay.
Main Outcome Measures:
The differences between plasma met-enkephalin levels in the two groups of cycles were compared.
Results:
Met-enkephalin levels are significantly higher in ovulatory cycles with a significant peak in the 2 postovulatory days (Duncan's multiple range test; P less than 0.05).
Conclusion:
Human ovulation is associated with cyclic elevation of plasma met-enkephalin. Further studies are required to elucidate causality.