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2010.09.28

Investigation of the correlation between cumulus cell hormone receptor gene expression and embryonic development in older and young women

2010 Annual Congress and international Symposium of Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Abstract
Investigation of the correlation between cumulus cell hormone receptor gene expression and embryonic development in older and young women

ZHENG EN-HUI 1,2, Tsung-Hsien Lee 3, HUANG JUN-JIA 1, HUANG LI-XIANG 1,3, Zhong- Yi Chen 1, Maw-Sheng Lee 1,3
Lee Women’s Hospital 1, Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University 2, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University 3

Specific Aim:Cumulus cellssynthesize steroid hormones and growth factors to support their own growth and oocyte maturation. The aim of this study is to investigate cumulus cell gene expression in infertile women at different ages.

Materials and methods:In order to evaluate the expression of hormone receptor genes in cumulus cells and the correlation between gene expression and oocyte maturation as well as embryo quality, we collect cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte from patients of different ages in routine IVF therapy. Expression of cumulus hormone receptor genes participating in embryonic development was assessed using real-time quantitative PCR. Oocyte quality was correlated to relative gene expression. Based on our previous studies of cumulus genes involved in cell senescence and embryonic development, we investigate LH receptor, FSH receptor and progesterone receptor gene expression in this study. Telomere length measurement was also carried out to determine the effect on actual reproductive age and embryonic development.

Results:We found relative expression of Progesterone receptors and LH receptors in cumulus cells decreased with increasing age. Correlating to oocyte development till day three, expression level of FSH receptor and progesterone receptors were low in cumulus cells surrounding oocytes which developed with good quality, whereas that of LH receptor was significantly high. No significant difference was found on the effect of these receptors on oocyte maturation. Telomere length was significantly correlated with the age of infertile women, indicating that we can predict follicular cell aging by the age of the women. On the other hand, no significant difference among different age group was found in the correlation between telomere length and embryo quality.

Conclusion:Our finding of the difference in the gene expression in older and young women could serve as reference for clinical practice.
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