Follistatin and activin A in extra-embryonic coelomic and amniotic fluids and maternal serum in early pregnancy |
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Authors: | Riley SC; Balfour C; Wathen NC; Chard T; Evans LW; Groome NP; Wallace EM |
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Institution: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Reproductive Biology, UK. |
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Abstract: | Follistatin is a specific binding protein which controls bioavailability of
activins and inhibins which have an important role in fetal development. In
the first trimester of pregnancy bioactive dimeric inhibins are found at
high concentrations in the extra- embryonic coelomic fluid, but the
distribution of follistatin and activins is not known. We have used
recently developed immunoassays for follistatin, activin A and activin AB
to determine their presence in the intrauterine compartments during early
pregnancy. Follistatin was present in highest concentrations in the
extra-embryonic coelomic fluid (11.72 +/- 1.70 ng/ml; median +/- SEM), with
less in maternal serum (6.35 +/- 4.58) and lowest amounts in amniotic fluid
(0.97 +/- 0.52). Follistatin concentrations in extra-embryonic coelomic
fluid were highly correlated with both dimeric inhibin isoforms. Activin A
was present in only barely detectable amounts in some samples of extra-
embryonic coelomic fluid (41% of samples) and maternal serum (26%) and was
undetectable in all amniotic fluid samples. Activin AB was undetectable in
all compartments. The presence of follistatin in the amniotic and
extra-embryonic coelomic fluids may regulate the availability of bioactive
activins and inhibins which are released into the intrauterine compartments
during the development of the fetus and placenta in early pregnancy.
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