Induced corpus luteum dysfunction after aspiration of the preovulatory follicle in monkeys

In order to obtain a mature ovum for in vitro fertilization or alternative procedures, the technique must be reliable both for collection of the fertilizable egg and preservation of a receptive maternal milieu, supported principally by normal corpus luteum function. During aspiration of the dominant follicle in the immediate preovulatory interval, some of the granulosa cells and follicular fluid unavoidably are removed from the antrum, along with the ovum. We used laboratory primates to assess the consequences of this granulosa cell and follicular fluid loss on subsequent corpus luteum function. Two types of luteal dysfunction were observed in approximately one-third of the monkeys: (1) transient subnormal progesterone secretion in the 1st postovulatory week and (2) very low progesterone secretion throughout the luteal phase. Only the former group demonstrated responsiveness to human chorionic gonadotropin.