Relationship between stem cell factor and gonadotropin in ovarian follicles development during superovulation cycles

Objective: To study whether stem cell factor (SCF) and gonadotropin work synergisticly in super-ovulation stimulation of an in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. Methods: Total cycles of 30 IVF-ET patients with regular menstrual period were studied. The same superovulation regimen was employed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) were used to determine the levels of SCF, follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in follicu-lar fluid (FF) during oocyte pick-up (OPU) and in serum before and after superovulation. Results: FF-SCF levels were significantly higher in high and moderate reactive groups [(564±64) ng · L-1, (532±55) ng · L-1, respectively] than that in low reactive group [(352±78) ng · L-1, P<0. 01]; FF-FSH levels were significantly different in three groups [(23. 7±5. 7) U · L-1, (24. 5±8. 9) U · L-1, and (15. 4±4.1) U · L-1, respectively, P<0. 05]. FF-LH levels were lower in low reactive group (33. 0±7.