Follitropin is a human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparation of recombinant DNA origin, which consists of two non-covalently linked, non-identical glycoproteins designated as the alpha- and beta- subunits. The alpha- and beta- subunits have 92 and 111 amino acids. The alpha subunit is glycosylated at Asn 51 and Asn 78 while the beta subunit is glycosylated at Asn 7 and Asn 24. Follitropin beta is produced in genetically engineered Chinese hamster cell lines (CHO). The nomenclature “beta” differentiates it from another recombinant human FSH product that was marketed earlier as follitropin alpha. Follitropin is important in the development of follicles produced by the ovaries. Given by subcutaneous injection, it is used in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to assist in ovulation and fertility. Follitropin may also be used to cause the ovary to produce several follicles, which can then be harvested for use in gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Numerous physio-chemical tests and bioassays indicate that follitropin beta and follitropin alpha are indistinguishable. However, a more recent study showed there is may be a slight clinical difference, with the alpha form tending towards a higher pregnancy rate and the beta form tending towards a lower pregnancy rate, but with significantly higher estradiol (E2) levels. Structural analysis shows that the amino acid sequence of follitropin beta is identical to that of natural human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Further, the ogliosaccharide side chains are very similar, but not completely identical to that of natural FSH. However, these small differences do not affect the bioactivity compared to natural FSH.
In women having been diagnosed with primary ovarian failure, it is used in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to assist in ovulation and fertility. In men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, it is used to induce spermatogenesis. Follitropin may also be used to cause the ovary to produce several follicles, which can then be harvested for use in gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child", Ufa, Russian Federation
Clinic "Mother and Child" Krasnodar, Krasnodar, Russian Federation
Clinic "Mather and Child" Lefortovo, Moscow, Russian Federation
Enrico Papaleo, Milan, Italy
Pierre OGER, Rueil-Malmaison, France
CHU Nantes Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Nantes, France
Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, BRON cedex, France
Internal Medicine and Diabetes Unit, Napoli, Italy
Fertility Care Unit (FCU) in Mansoura University Hospital, Mansourah, Dakahlia, Egypt
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandria, Egypt
RAHEM Fertility Centre, Zagazig, Egypt
First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
Clinique Ovo, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Fertility Centers of Illinois (RH), Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seattle Reproductive Medicine WA, Seattle, Washington, United States
Women's Medical Research Group, LLC, Clearwater, Florida, United States
Fertility Treatment Center, Tempe, Arizona, United States
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Winter Park, Florida, United States
Carolina Conceptions, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Reproductive Medicine Center, Malmö, Sweden
Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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