Concentrations of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in relation to the diameter of human follicles

Objective To determine the concentrations of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in individual human preovulatory follicles in relation to their diameter or volume for clarifying the role of these molecules in folliculogenesis. Design Prospective study. Setting Research laboratory at Kansai Medical University. Patient(s) Twenty-seven women undergoing IVF. Intervention(s) Follicular fluid (FF) was collected from individual follicles. A total of 373 follicles were analyzed. Main Outcome Measure(s) The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF and oocyte recovery rates. Result(s) The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in follicles with a diameter ≤14 mm were significantly lower than those in follicles with a diameter ≥15 mm. The concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF increased with follicular diameters or volume, with concentrations peaking in follicles with a diameter of 18–20 mm or a volume of 3.6–5.0 mL. Furthermore, we found that there exists a positive correlation between the concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF from follicles ≤20 mm in diameter. The oocyte recovery rates increased with concentrations of SDF-1 and VEGF in FF. Conclusion(s) Our data suggest that SDF-1, as well as VEGF, may play an important role in follicular growth and development.