Mitochondrial ATPase 6 gene expression in unfertilized oocytes and cleavage-stage embryos.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the level of mitochondrial ATPase 6 gene expression in unfertilized oocytes and cleavage-stage embryos. DESIGN: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed in unfertilized oocytes and cleavage-stage embryos derived from tripronucleate embryos to determine ATPase 6 gene expression. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Human Genetics Laboratory, Infertility Medical Center of CHA General Hospital, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seoul, Korea. PATIENT(S): Oocytes were obtained from infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. INTERVENTION(S): Unfertilized oocytes collected at 48 hours after retrieval and cleavage-stage embryos derived from tripronucleate embryos were prepared for evaluation of mitochondrial gene expression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of ATPase 6 gene expression by using single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULT(S): Expression of unfertilized oocytes decreased compared with early cleavage-stage embryos. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings of decreased ATPase 6 expression in unfertilized oocytes suggest that there may be a decrease in the mitochondrial functional capacity of oxidative phosphorylation.