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Chapter 2
46
Table 2.3 Baseline characteristics (median and range) in 63 healthy female normo-ovulatory volunteers,
participating in the study with various intervention regimens with exogenous FSH.
Age
(yrs)
Cycle length
(days)
FSH *
(IU/l)
E 2 *
(pmol/l)
inhibin A *
(ng/l)
Inhibin B *
(ng/l)
Intervention Group
Study 1 Study 2
A
(n= 11)
28
(25 - 33)
28
(27 – 30)
5.1
(3.9 – 6.0)
156
(102 – 230)
5
(2 - 9)
98
(29 – 221)
B
(n=12)
28
(20 - 34)
29
(27 – 30)
5.1
(3.6– 7.7)
143
(106 – 259)
5
(2 - 6)
154
(68 – 234)
C
(n=13)
29
(21 - 35)
28
(26 – 31)
6.5
(2.8 – 13.5)
127
(64 – 220)
5
(4 – 9)
87
(21 – 192)
D
(n=13)
29
(22 - 34)
28
(25 – 31)
6.3
(3.3 – 9.8)
175
(91 – 404)
7
(3 – 52)
130
(12 – 213)
E
(n=14)
28
(20 - 35)
28
(26 – 30)
7.7
(5.4 – 13.1)
137
(109 – 264)
8
(4 – 11)
114
(57 – 179)
* All baseline endocrine parameters were assessed on cycle day 3 (pre-intervention cycle for group
A and B, intervention cycle for group C, D and E)
without significant changes in FSH concentrations. Although inhibin B levels in group
E showed an increase from the early to late follicular phase (P < 0.01), the increase
started later with a significant increase from mid- to late follicular phase (P < 0.05). In
all 5 intervention groups inhibin A and E 2 levels increased during the follicular phase,
showing a significant increase between early- and mid follicular phase levels, except
group A (inhibin A and E 2 levels: P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001,
P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, and P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 for group B, C, D and E, respectively),
and between mid- and late follicular phase levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, P
< 0.001 and P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, and P = 0.001
and P = 0.001, for group A, B, C, D and E, respectively).
In the early follicular phase, group A showed a significant rise in FSH concentration
(P < 0.001), with a subsequent rise in inhibin B concentration (P < 0.001) compared to
the natural cycle. Also group C showed an increased FSH (P < 0.001) and inhibin B (P
< 0.01) concentration compared to the natural cycle. In the mid follicular phase serum
hormone levels in group A were comparable to those concentrations in the natural
cycle. In group B, C and D however, inhibin B- and A, E 2 and FSH concentrations were
all increased compared to the natural cycle (P = 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01
for group B; P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 for group C; and P = 0.001,
P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 for group E, respectively). Mid follicular inhibin B
in group E was comparable to the natural cycle, whereas inhibin A, E 2 and FSH levels
were increased (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).
No differences were observed comparing the natural cycle and group A in the late
follicular phase. The other intervention groups showed late follicular inhibin B levels