Cytokine and hormonal profile in blood serum and follicular fluids during ovarian stimulation with the multidose antagonist or the long agonist protocol

Background: The aim of our study was to explore cytokine and hormonal profiles in blood and follicular fluids from normal women stimulated with either the multidose antagonist or the long agonist protocol. Methods: Fifty-six patients were stimulated with the multidose antagonist protocol and 12 with the long agonist protocol. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), leptin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), estradiol (E₂), progesterone and testosterone levels were measured in serum and follicular fluids by immunoassays. Results: The two treatment groups had similar cytokine concentrations in serum. The intrafollicular concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, VEGF and leptin were also similar in the two groups. The concentrations of bFGF in follicular fluids from the antagonist group (169.5 ± 113.2 ng/ml) were lower than those from the agonist group (249.7 ± 119.8 ng/ml). bFGF concentrations were correlated with the amount of administered gonadotrophins (R = 0.364, P < 0.01) which was significantly lower in the antagonist group (antagonist group: 2037.7 ± 725.8 IU; agonist group: 2836.4 ± 1163.5 IU). Conclusions: Normal women stimulated with either the multidose antagonist or the long agonist protocol generally have similar cytokine profiles in serum and follicular fluids. The intrafollicular levels of bFGF tend to be lower in antagonist cycles because of the lower amount of administered gonadotrophins.