Prostanoid levels in in vitro fertilization culture medium are not related to the likelihood of implantation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine prostanoid levels (prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 [TXB2]) in embryo culture medium containing inactivated maternal serum and their correlation with the clinical outcome of IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Prostanoid levels were measured in blank control medium and in medium containing an embryo or nonfertilized oocyte with a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC-RIA) method. Comparisons of HPLC-RIA, Seppak C18-RIA, and RIA directly in the medium demonstrated identical results for TXB2, allowing the use of direct RIA in the large investigation of 129 media.

SETTING

Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.

PATIENTS

Patients with (n = 12) and without (n = 15) an ongoing pregnancy after IVF-ET.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prostanoid levels in embryo culture medium and relationship between prostanoid levels and successful implantation.

RESULTS

Thromboxane B2 is the only prostanoid consistently found in these media. In both groups there was no difference in TXB2 levels between control media, media containing a nonfertilized oocyte, and media containing an embryo. There was no difference in TXB2 levels between media that had harbored the beginning of a successful pregnancy and those that had not produced a pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Thromboxane B2 in the embryo culture medium originates from maternal serum and bears no relationship with the likelihood of fertilization and implantation.