Relationships between Bovine Follicular Fluid Glycosaminoglycans and Steroids*

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Abstract
The glycosaminoglycans chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS) are present in follicular fluid. Estradiol (E), progesterone (P), CS, and HS concentrations were evaluated from pools of 2633 small (< 6 mm), 1702 medium (6-10 mm), and 491 large (> 10 mm) bovine follicles subdivided by relative E concentrations. E and P concentrations increased with follicle enlargement (P < 0.05), but were inversely related within a follicle size. CS levels were reduced (P < 0.05) in large (0.84 mg/ml) compared to small (1.18 mg/ml) and medium (1.36 mg/ml) follicles, while HS levels were decreased (P < 0.05) in mediumn (0.34 mg/ml) and large (0.19 mg/ml) compared to small (1.10 mg/ml) follicles. Within a follicles size, CS and HS levels decreased significantly with increasing E. CS to HS ratios increased with follicle size and E concentration. The ratio of CS to HS was 4.4- and 1.6-fold higher, respectively, in medium and large follicular fluid samples classified healthy compared to atretic by their E content. Concentrations of glycosaminoglycans decrease with follicular maturation, and atretic follicles contain elevated levels of CS and HS.