ABSTRACT
Objective: The extracellular matrix [ECM] of the cumulus oocyte complex [COC] is composed of several molecules that have different roles during follicle development. This study aims to explore gene expression profiles for ECM and cell adhesion molecules in the cumulus cells of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] patients based on their insulin sensitivity following controlled ovarian stimulation [COS]
Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study enrolled 23 women less than 36 years of age who participated in an intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] program. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups: control [n=8, fertile women with male infertility history], insulin resistant [IR] PCOS [n=7], and insulin sensitive [IS] PCOS [n=8]. We compared 84 ECM component and adhesion molecule gene expressions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction array [qPCR-array] among the groups
Results: We noted that 21 of the 84 studied genes differentially expressed among the groups, from which 18 of these genes downregulated. Overall, comparison of PCOS cases with controls showed downregulation of extracellular matrix protein 1 [ECM1]; catenin [cadherin-associated protein], alpha 1 [CTNNA1]; integrin, alpha 5 [ITGA5]; laminin, alpha 3 [LAMA3]; laminin, beta 1 [LAMB1]; fibronectin 1 [FN1]; and integrin, alpha 7 [ITGA7]. In the IS group, there was upregulation of ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 8 [ADAMTS8] and neural cell adhesion molecule 1 [NCAM1] compared with the controls [P<0.05]
Conclusion: Downregulation of ECM and cell adhesion molecules seem to be related to PCOS. Gene expression profile alterations in cumulus cells from both the IS and IR groups of PCOS patients seems to be involved in the composition and regulation of ECM during the ovulation process. This study highlights the association of ECM gene alteration as a viewpoint for additional understanding of the etiology of PCOS
ABSTRACT
Background: A decrease in aneuploidy rate following a prolonged co-culture of human blastocysts has been reported. As co-culture is not routinely used in assisted reproductive technology, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the prolonged single culture on the rate of diploid cells in human embryos with aneuploidies
Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] to reanalyze surplus blastocysts undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis [PGD] on day 3 postfertilization. They were randomly studied on days 6 or 7 following fertilization
Results: Of the 30 analyzed blastocysts, mosaicism was observed in 26[86.6%], while 2[6.7%] were diploid, and 2[6.7%] were triploid. Of those with mosaicism, 23[88.5%] were determined to be diploid-aneuploid and 3[11.5%] were aneuploid mosaic. The total frequency of embryos with more than 50% diploid cells was 33.3% that was lower on day 7 in comparison with the related value on day 6 [P<0.05]; however, there were no differences when the embryos were classified according to maternal age, blastocyst developmental stage, total cell number on day 3, and embryo quality
Conclusion: Although mosaicism is frequently observed in blastocysts, the prolonged single culture of blastocysts does not seem to increase the rate of normal cells