Prostaglandins, thromboxane and leukotriene in human follicular fluid.

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were measured in the follicular fluid of 15 hyperstimulated human follicles. All the samples contained these eicosanoids. Ova were recovered in six aspirates; the measured levels of prostanoids and LTB4 did not differ significantly from the levels of nine aspirates without ova. The presence of LTB4 in human follicular fluid suggests that the products of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid may also have a role in the function of the follicular fluid.