ABSTRACT
Different Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) formulation and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) are used in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to induce follicles development and oocytes maturation, but it is still under debate which protocol is to be preferred. In the present study, the different effects on cumulus cells (CCs) of three controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols, based on urinary FSH, recombinant FSH, or human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) administration, were assessed. CCs were obtained from 42 normal-responders women undergoing COS, randomly divided into three groups according to the used gonadotropin formulation. Differences were found in the expression of genes belonging to the endocannabinoid system (the receptors CNR1, CNR2 and TRPV1, and the enzymes involved in the metabolisms of anandamide, NAPE-PLD and FAAH, and 2-acylglycerol, DAGL and MAGL); consistently, changes in lipid (PPARα, and FASN) and carbohydrate (GLUT1 and GLUT9) metabolisms, in CCs' macromolecules composition (highlighted by Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy, FTIRM), and in the number of retrieved oocytes were found. For the first time, statistically significant evidence on the differences related to each COS protocol on the endocannabinoid system, metabolism and macromolecular composition of CCs was found, representing a proof of concept to be further confirmed in a larger cohort of patients.
Subject(s)
Cumulus Cells/drug effects , Cumulus Cells/metabolism , Endocannabinoids/metabolism , Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human/pharmacology , Menotropins/pharmacology , Ovulation Induction/methods , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Urofollitropin/pharmacology , Adult , Arachidonic Acids/genetics , Arachidonic Acids/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Cohort Studies , Endocannabinoids/genetics , Female , Gene Expression/drug effects , Humans , Oocyte Retrieval , Polyunsaturated Alkamides/metabolism , Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraredABSTRACT
The human androgen receptor (AR) gene contains a highly polymorphic CAG repeat sequence within exon 1. In-vitro studies have shown a relationship between CAG repeats in the AR gene and its transactivation potential. This variation in length may play a role in anovulatory infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CAG polymorphism of the AR gene has a predictive value for ovarian reserve, response and cycle outcome in an egg donor programme. CAG length of the AR gene was determined in 147 oocyte donors. All donors underwent ovarian stimulation with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol (n = 355). No differences were reported in days of stimulation, gonadotrophin doses, and number of oocytes retrieved. Clinical outcomes were not affected by the CAG repeat length of the AR gene; the primary end-point, antral follicle count, was significantly affected (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in a population of fertile egg donors AR gene CAG polymorphism does not affect ovarian response to gonadotrophins. Antral follicle count was associated with the CAG polymorphism genotype. This suggests that genetic factors may increase susceptibility to poor ovarian reserve, and that AR gene genotype could play a role in the natural ovarian ageing process.
Subject(s)
Fertility Agents, Female/pharmacology , Ovarian Reserve , Ovary/drug effects , Ovulation Induction , Polymorphism, Genetic , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Genetic Association Studies , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/analogs & derivatives , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/pharmacology , Humans , Infertility, Female/genetics , Infertility, Female/pathology , Oocyte Donation , Ovary/cytology , Ovary/diagnostic imaging , Ovary/pathology , Receptors, Androgen/chemistry , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , Spain , Triptorelin Pamoate/pharmacology , Ultrasonography , Urofollitropin/pharmacology , Young AdultABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) compounds on the electrical activity of myometrium using signal-processing techniques. Thirty animals were involved in the experiment. After two successive normal estrous cycles, 15 of these animals were put into three equal subgroups. Group 1 was the control; animals were given solvent. Groups 2 and 3 were treated with Urofollitropin and Menotropin, respectively. The other 15 animals were ovariectomized and subjected to the same protocol. Their uterine myoelectrical signals were recorded over a period of at least 3 min at a sampling frequency of 500 Hz, and analyzed through software assisted signal processing. The results show the power and some characteristic spectral components of myoelectrical signal were differentially reduced with the administration of highly purified urinary FSH and human menopausal FSH but significant differences were not detected between their histology. In conclusion, uterine myoelectrical signals change with administration of urinary FSH preparations. Human menopausal FSH and more precisely highly purified FSH suppress the spectral components and modify the power of the myoelectrical signals which provides uterine quiescence.
