Serum adiponectin levels increase after human chorionic gonadotropin treatment during in vitro fertilization

To determine whether or not serum adiponectin concentrations are influenced by ovarian hyperstimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF).

This study involved 52 women who were participating in IVF-ET cycles. Adiponectin levels in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay and compared.

Serum adiponectin levels fell from Day-basal to Day-hCG (p = 0.047), and then rose on Day-OR and again on Day-7ET (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Estradiol levels on Day-hCG were significantly and positively correlated with serum adiponectin levels on Day-OR and Day-7ET (r = 0.325, p = 0.019; r = 0.372, p = 0.007). Progesterone levels on Day-OR positively correlated with serum adiponectin levels on Day-basal (r = 0.278, p = 0.046). There was also a positive correlation between progesterone levels on Day-7ET and serum adiponectin levels on Day-OR (r = 0.289, p = 0.038). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that adiponectin levels on Day-OR and Day-7ET were negatively correlated with age and body mass index after adjustment was made for concomitant diseases.

To sum up, following gonadotropin treatment, serum adiponectin levels decrease as a result of the negative effect of high estradiol levels on adiponectin production. Conversely, serum adiponectin levels increase following human chorionic gonadotropin treatment.