Clinical efficacy and mechanism of growth hormone action in patients experiencing repeat implantation failure

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical efficacy of growth hormone (GH) in patients experiencing repeat implantation failure (RIF) and explore the possible mechanism. Forty-two RIF patients undergoing in vitro fertilization – embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in the present trial: 22 patients who received GH (treatment group) and 20 who did not receive GH (controls). The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P < 0.05). The treatment group expressed significantly higher levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA than the control group (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that GH levels in follicular fluid were positively correlated with the expression levels of mRNA encoding GHR in granulosa cells (r = 0.460, P < 0.05). GH treatment enhanced IVF pregnancy outcomes and increased the expression of GHR in granulosa cells in fluid. GH levels in follicular fluid were positively correlated with the expression levels of GHR.