Correlation of cumulus gene expression of GJA1, PRSS35, PTX3, and SERPINE2 with oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Robert Kuo-Kuang Lee³  Ying-Jie Chen²  Ling-Yu Yeh¹  Chung-Hao Lu²  Yuh-Ming Hwu⁵  Ming-Huei Lin²  Sheng-Hsiang Li⁴ 

[1] Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei City 251, Taiwan;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City 104, Taiwan;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan;Graduate Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan;Mackay Medical College, Sanzhi District, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan

关键词: Embryo development;    Cumulus cells;    Oocyte;    Gene expression;   

Others  :  1224972
DOI  :  10.1186/s12958-015-0091-3

 received in 2015-06-04, accepted in 2015-08-06,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

GJA1 and PTX3 were proposed as gene markers for oocyte and embryo developmental competence, while SERPINE2 was reported to be associated with pregnancy outcome. PRSS35, which is exclusively expressed in the ovary, may be correlated with oocyte competence. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation of cumulus GJA1, PRSS35, PTX3, and SERPINE2 gene expression levels with oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryo development.

Methods

In total, 308 cumulus cell samples separated from individual cumulus–oocyte complex were obtained from 40 patients undergoing the intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment procedure. Gene expression levels (mRNA levels) in cumulus cells were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Gene expression levels of GJA1 and SERPINE2 in cumulus cells surrounding mature oocytes were significantly lower than those in cumulus cells enclosing immature oocytes. PRSS35 mRNA levels in cumulus cells of fertilized oocytes were significantly higher than those in cumulus cells of unfertilized oocytes. GJA1 and SERPINE2 seemed to express higher mRNA levels, while PRSS35 showed lower expression in cumulus cells of oocytes that developed into embryos with good morphology; however, the expression levels of all three genes and PTX3 showed no significant differences between embryos with good or poor morphology.

Conclusions

GJA1 and SERPINE2 represent potential gene markers associated with oocyte maturation. PRSS35 may be correlated with oocyte fertilization potential. However, GJA1, PRSS35, PTX3, and SERPINE2 may not be considered as marker genes for predicting embryo morphology.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Li et al.

【 图 表 】

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