The measurements of RAGE, VEGF, and AGEs in the plasma and follicular fluid of reproductive women: the influence of aging  Eriko Y. Fujii, M.D., Ph.D., Masahiro Nakayama, M.D.  Fertility and Sterility  Volume 94, Issue 2, Pages 694-700 (July 2010) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.029 Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Variations of plasma (A) sRAGE and (B) VEGF in the spontaneous menstrual phases. Plasma samples were collected twice, at low BBT and at high BBT periods, from the 14 patients individually (n= 10 from the young; n = 4 from the old). There was a tendency for sRAGE to decrease and for VEGF to increase at high BBT in both age groups. In total samples, the decrease of sRAGE from 1,030 ± 475 pg/mL (mean ± SD) at low BBT phase to 878 ± 451 pg/mL at high BBT was statistically significant (P=.047), but the increase of VEGF was not (P=.075). BBT = basal body temperature; sRAGE = soluble isoform of the receptor for advanced glycation end products; VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor. Fertility and Sterility 2010 94, 694-700DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.029) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Correlation between the (A) sRAGE and (B) VEGF concentrations in plasma (P) and FF. We assessed individual correlation between the sRAGE or VEGF concentrations measured in the plasma versus the FF of samples that were simultaneously obtained during egg collection for IVF (n = 28). (A) The sRAGE concentrations in the plasma and FF samples showed a significant positive correlation as determined by Pearson correlation test: r = +0.677; P<.0001; n = 28; (B) A significant inverse correlation was observed between the sRAGE concentration in plasma and the VEGF concentration in FF: r = −0.614; P=.0003. FF = follicular fluid; other abbreviations as in Figure 1. Fertility and Sterility 2010 94, 694-700DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.029) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Correlation between the number of collected oocytes and the subjects. (A) We found a significant inverse correlation between the patients' age and the number of oocytes: r = −0.327; P=.014. (B) Among the various molecules we measured, only FF sRAGE showed a borderline significance in the positive correlation with the number of collected oocytes: r = 0.252; P=.052. Abbreviations as in Figures 1 and 2. Fertility and Sterility 2010 94, 694-700DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.029) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions