Angiotensin II/III and substance P in human follicular fluid obtained during IVF: relation of the peptide content with follicular size

Abstract

Ovarian follicular fluid (FF) of a number of species contain regulatory peptides secreted by granulosa cells or by autonomic nerve terminals. In this report we demonstrate the presence of authentic (HPLC-verification) angiotensin II and III as well as of substance P (SP) in human FF obtained from hMG stimulated infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Angiotensin II/III (AII/III), estradiol (E2) and progesterone concentrations increase with the size of the follicles. SP concentrations did not vary significantly in FF of various sizes. These peptide concentrations in FF are about 10-fold higher than those measured in the serum of the same patients. Attempts to correlate SP, AII/III, E2 and progesterone concentrations in the individual FF with the ability of an oocyte to be fertilized, failed. Neither AII/III, SP, E2 nor progesterone concentrations were different in these subclasses of FF.Follicles of patients punctured under general anesthesia contained significantly more SP than follicles of patients which had lumbar analgesia. AII/III concentrations were the same in FF of both treatment groups.The presence of angiotensin II and III in FF in increasing concentrations depending on the maturity of the follicle and the inability of general anesthesia to affect the AII/III concentrations suggests that this peptide is produced within the ovary.Steroid hormones are the main products of ova¬ rian endocrine activity. Recent research revealed that ovaries of a number of species, including man, produce also a variety of regulatory pep¬ tides. Using either histo-or biochemical techni¬ ques, the presence of vasopressin-, Substance P-, ß-endorphin-and angiotensin Il-like immunore¬ active material has been demonstrated in ovarian extracts or in follicular fluid (Wathes et al. 1982;Ojeda et al. 1985;Lim et al. 1983;Culler et al. 1986).The steroid, particularly the estradiol levels in follicular fluid (FF) are thought to be related to maturity of follicles. Attempts to correlate steroid levels in FF with follicular size or with the capabi¬ lity of follicles to give rise to oocytes which could be successfully fertilized have given contradictory results (Bohnet & Baukloh 1985;Carson et al. 1982). Similar studies with regard to peptide concentrations in FF have not yet been published.In order to study these relations in more detail, we were interested in following topics:1. Detection of immunoreactive angiotensin II or III (All, III) and of substance (SP).2. Demonstration of authenticity of immunore¬ active peptide material.3. Comparison of the peptide content of an individual follicle with follicular size.4. Comparison of peptide concentrations of follicles containing fertilizable and non-fertilizable oocytes.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in mares around ovulation

“…Administration of an ANG inhibitor in cows avoided the growth of the predominant follicle, and decreased the concentrations of E2 (Ferreira et al 2011). Similarly, in women subjected to ovaric stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), concentrations of ANG were positively correlated with E2 and DPF (Jarry et al 1988). In the current study, correlations between DPF and ANG concentrations were weak.…”

Role of angiotensin in ovarian follicular development and ovulation in mammals: a review of recent advances

“…Near ovulation, the levels of Ang II also increased in the ovary after treating rabbits with hCG (Yoshimura et al 1994), cattle with LH (Acosta et al 2000, Shimizu et al 2007, and women with human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) and hCG (Lightman et al 1987). Similarly, Ang II and Ang III were found to be positively correlated with estradiol levels and follicle diameter in women stimulated with hMG (Jarry et al 1988).…”

Angiotensins stimulate in vitro ovulation and contraction of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) follicles

“…In the pig, the regulation of ovarian angiotensin production may be related to a surge of luteinizing hormone occurring prior to ovulation (Einspanier et al 1991). A link between angiotensins and ovarian steroid synthesis Jarry et al 1988;Palumbo et al 1989), folliculogenesis (Fernandez et al 1985) and ovulation (Pellicer et al 1988;Kuo et al 1991) have been reported. However, the mechanism by which angiotensins affect these processes, particularly ovulation, has not been well defined.…”