[Changes in follicular acid phosphatase levels in relation to oocyte maturity in humans]

The changes in enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase (AP) have an important role in ovulation, and it seems that there is relationship between ovocyte fertilization by spermatozoon. In this study AP enzymatic activity in follicular fluid of 32 patients of fertile age who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy, was determined. Ovarian follicles were functioned in all the patients, and bloody follicles were discarded, as well as the ones without ovule. The ovule was morphologically classified according to complex ovocyte-cummulus-crown radiated in three groups: immature, mature or pre-ovulatory and atresic or post-ovulatory. AP levels in follicular fluid, containing immature ovocytes (0.5 +/- 0.3 UBL) were significantly lower, p greater than 0.05, than AP levels for follicles with mature ovocytes (3.7 +/- 1.3) and postmature (4.8 +/- 3.2); there were no significant differences for AP values in these last two groups. These findings show that these AP levels could be used as an indicator of follicular immaturity, and to choose the optimal time for follicular punction for the in vitro fertilization and gamet transference procedures.