[Pregnancies by fertilization in vitro. Biochemistry of the follicular fluid]

Fifty four follicular fluids containing 41 oocytes were sampled from 6 patients in which at least one pregnancy was obtained after IVF. Their biochemical composition has been correlated with the follicle maturity and oocyte quality. Three components have been assayed: steroids, prostanoids, proteolytic enzymes. Determinations of estrogens and total aromatisable androgens were carried out by the enzymatic technic of Nicolas and al.; progesterone and 17 OH progesterone by RIA. Development of in vitro cultured and fertilized oocytes appears to be improved when progesterone and estrogens concentrations in the follicular fluid are above 2 000 and 600 ng/ml respectively, with an A/E ratio under 1. On the other hand, prostanoids (T X B2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha determined by RIA) and proteolytic enzymes : (collagenolytic and kallikrein type activities) seemed related to ovulatory activity rather than to oocyte quality.