[Changes of hormone levels in follicular fluid in women with normal menstruation]

Levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P0), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) in ovarian follicles of different sizes and at different phases of normal menstrual cycles were determined and, their relationships with those in peripheral blood were studied. According to the diameters, the follicles were divided into large (greater than 14 mm), median (8-14 mm) and small (less than 8 mm) ones. The results showed that the levels of E2, P0, FSH and LH were lower, whereas those of A and T were higher in small and median follicles, as compared with the large follicles. In the large follicles, particularly at the preovulatory phase, E2, P0, FSH and LH reached maximum levels. The concentration of E2 was 9815 nmol/L, P0, 3316 nmol/L, FSH 1.34 IU/L and LH 3.91 IU/L at the preovulatory phase. The concentrations of A and T were much lower in large follicles, being 280 nmol/L and 137 nmol/L respectively. No significant difference was found in PRL levels in follicles of different sizes. The steroid hormones in the follicular fluid were about 7-20,000 times higher than those in the peripheral blood, while FSH and LH were only about 10-80% and PRL was slightly higher than in peripheral blood.