Telomere length in cumulus cells as a potential biomarker of embryo quality and pregnancy rate / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship of relative telomere length in cumulus cells(CCs) with oocytes at different mature stages and the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (ICSI-ET). Methods Oocyte-cumulus complex samples were collected from 92 patients undergoing ICSI-ET and patients were divided into group A including 55 women≤35 years and group B 37 women>35 years. The embryonic development ability and the result of clinical pregnancy were recorded in different groups. DNA was extracted from CCs and assessed for telomere length by real-time quantitative PCR. Results In ICSI-ET,the relative telomere length of CCs gradually shortened with the age.There was a significantly longer telomere length of CCs in the preg-nant subgroup than that in the non-pregnant subgroup in the two groups(P < 0.05). Conclusion The telomere length of CCs may be associated with the pregnancy outcome in ICSI-ET.