Activin is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and is a polypeptide growth factor. Activin regulates follicle growth, gonadotropin responsiveness, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation, and corpus luteum function in the ovary via a local autocrine/paracrine effect. Activin measurement A level in serum and follicular fluid during the preovulatory stage in PCOS women undergoing an IVF/ICSI cycle to predict fertilization capacity earlier Fifty infertile couples, 25 with PCOS and 25 without PCOS, who attended Al Nahrain University in Baghdad, Iraq's High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The females that participated were between the ages of 18 and 40. On the day of oocyte retrieval, the level of Activin A in serum and follicular fluid was measured. Activin A levels in PCOS women's serum (activin A=1274 77.9) and follicular fluid (activin A =1038 50.3) compared to non-PCOS women's serum (activin A=453 25.74) and follicular fluid (Activin A=450 23.73). The study shows no correlation between activin A hormone with oocytes characteristics and fertilization rate in PCOS women with a significant increase of activin A hormone in the serum and FF of PCOS women compared to non PCOS women. Activin A level can predict a diagnosis of PCOS in addition to positive predictive pregnancy but not indicator of fertilization capacity in PCOS women.
The association between the two hormones (progesterone and Activin A) in infertile women on the day of ova pick up and their relationship with pregnancy status in assisted reproductive programs are both poorly understood. To determine the correlation of progesterone and activin A on the day of ova pick up with pregnancy status of women undergoing IVF/ICSI cycle. The study was conducted on 80 infertile couples. The serum at day of ova pick up was collected. Serum progesterone and activin A analysis were done for all samples for activin A. Out of eighty infertile females twenty-five became pregnant (Pregnancy rate = 31%). Serum progesterone levels at days of oocytes pick up was significantly higher in pregnant females than non-pregnant (9.22 ± 0.54 vs. 4.47 ± 0.44; p < 0.001). There was a significantly higher serum activin levels at day of oocytes pick up in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant (2.19 ± 0.04 vs. 1.52 ± 0.04; p < 0.001). The cut-off value of serum progesterone at day of oocytes picks up was > 7.5 ng/ml and the cut-off value of serum activin A at day of oocytes pick up was > 1.85 ng/ml. Pregnant women had higher levels of the hormone progesterone and Activin A than non-pregnant women, which is significantly correlated. This result can be utilized to predicate the pregnancy status early in IVF Centers.
Background: Recently the reproductive hormones, Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), activin A, and follistatin (FS) have been found to play an important role in folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and corpus luteum function by changing the pattern of granulosa cell expression which in turn affects the success of fertilization potential. Objectives: To examine the relation of in vivo concentrations of AMH, activin A, and FS hormones on the ovaries status in the phases of menstrual cycle and to elucidate the relationship of these hormones with pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination(IUI). Materials and methods: Seventy seven infertile couples were recruited from infertility clinic population at the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies through the period from September 2011 to May 2012. Those infertile couples were divided to 3 groups according to the infertility cause (male factors causes, anovulatory causes and unexplained causes of infertility). Measurements of AMH, activin A, and FS hormones levels were done at cycle day (CD25-). Then measurements of activin A, and FS hormones levels were done only at preovulatory cycle(CD1214-) when the size of the Graffian follicle range between 1824-mm and at least one follicle was present and before hCG injection and at day 28 of the cycle (CD28). IUI was performed 3640- hours after hCG injection then measurement of the three hormones was performed after successful IUI. The result of successful pregnancy was recorded and statistical relation with AMH, activin A and FS hormones was assessed. Results: There was a positive significant correlation between endometrial thickness (ET) and pregnancy rate and the best ET to predict pregnancy is more than 7mm. There was no significant relation (P>0.05) between AMH level and pregnancy rate. A significant correlation was found between follistatin levels in preovulatory (CD 1214-) with a cutoff value 0.20ng/ml to predict pregnancy. There was a significant relation between activin-A level and pregnancy rate with a predictive cut off value 397.5 ng/ml on (CD 28) only. Conclusions: Activin-A can be regarded as a biomarker candidate for diagnosing very early pregnancy at luteal phase following IUI. Follistatin preovulatory (average CD13) has the most predictive value for pregnancy following IUI.