Response of proopiomelanocortin and gonado- or lactotroph systems to in-vitro fertilisation procedures stress

Harbach, Heinz; Antrecht, Kerstin; Boedeker, Rolf-Hasso; Brenck, Florian; Gips, Holger; Hempelmann, Gunter; Muehling, Joerg; Welters, Ingeborg; Zygmunt, Marek

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2008.08.001

« Previous Next »European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 141, Issue 2 , Pages 137-142, December 2008

Response of proopiomelanocortin and gonado- or lactotroph systems to in-vitro fertilisation procedures stress

Heinz Harbach
- University Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Pain Therapy, Rudolf-Buchheim-Street 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 641 9944401; fax: +49 641 9944409.
Kerstin Antrecht
- Centre of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Klinikstr. 32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
Rolf-Hasso Boedeker
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 44, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
Florian Brenck
- University Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Pain Therapy, Rudolf-Buchheim-Street 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
Holger Gips
- Centre of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Klinikstr. 32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
Gunter Hempelmann
- University Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Pain Therapy, Rudolf-Buchheim-Street 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
Joerg Muehling
- University Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Pain Therapy, Rudolf-Buchheim-Street 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
Ingeborg Welters
- University Department of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Science, Daulby Street, L69 3 GA Liverpool, UK
Marek Zygmunt
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, EMA University Greifswald, Wollweberstr. 1, 17475 Greifswald, Germany

Received 9 May 2006; received in revised form 20 April 2008; accepted 3 August 2008. published online 01 September 2008.

Abstract

Objective

To analyse for the first time the response of the corticotroph-type and the melanotroph-type pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) system with regard to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment using self-developed highly specific non-cross-reacting radioimmunoassay.

Study design

Setting: University hospital. Patients: A total of 28 patients undergoing IVF oocyte retrieval. Cross sectional exploratory study, one factorial design with repeated measurements on one factor, non-parametric tests. Blood was collected before anaesthesia (t_A) (n=28) and immediately after oocyte retrieval (t_B) (n=28). Main outcome measure(s): β-endorphin immunoreactive material (IRM), acetyl-N-β-endorphin IRM, β-lipotropin IRM, ACTH, cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. For determination of authentic β-endorphin [β-endorphin (1–31)] a highly specific two-site fluid phase immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay was developed, which did not cross-react with any β-endorphin derivative or any other opioid peptide tested.

Results

No response of acetyl-N-β-endorphin IRM and of authentic β-endorphin (1–31) was observed to oocyte retrieval in contrast to a significant increase of corticotroph-type proopiomelanocortin derivatives. A significant rise in prolactin plasma concentration indicates a pronounced lactotroph response to oocyte retrieval stress. No significant correlation between POMC derivates and prolactin and between POMC derivatives and gonadotropins or sexual steroids except for ACTH and progesterone and for β-endorphin IRM and estradiol was observed.

Conclusion

IVF treatment stress led to significant corticotroph-type POMC and lactotroph responses, but not to responses of authentic β-endorphin or melanotroph-type POMC in women undergoing oocyte retrieval.

Keywords: Proopiomelanocortin, β-Endorphin, Acetyl-N-β-endorphin immunoreactive material, Adaptation to stress